The Plus Ultra investigation has opened a new line of scrutiny with political and business implications in Bolivia and Peru. A report by Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit, known as UDEF, points to former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over an alleged mediation effort before Bolivian authorities on behalf of Gloria Group, the Peruvian conglomerate that owns Sociedad Boliviana de Cemento, SOBOCE.
Spanish media, referencing the police report, indicate that Zapatero allegedly obtained 200,000 euros through a consultancy deal that investigators believe may have been merely a front. The funds were said to have been funneled via Focus Social Research, a Peruvian firm officially listed as the contracting entity, even though the UDEF asserts that the arrangement was connected to Gloria Group’s commercial dealings.
At the heart of the dispute lies a significant legal battle in Bolivia, where since 2011 SOBOCE has faced litigation brought by Fábrica Nacional de Cemento, FANCESA, concerning claims of unfair competition. After extensive judicial review, Bolivian courts confirmed a verdict requiring the cement firm associated with Gloria Group to pay 107 million dollars, a decision that was later temporarily halted due to a constitutional challenge.
In this context, the UDEF asserts that Zapatero relied on political ties with high-ranking Bolivian authorities, including then-President Luis Arce, several cabinet members and individuals linked to the economic and judicial sectors. Police findings indicate that these actions involved holding meetings, exchanging communications and undertaking a trip to Bolivia in September 2024.
The report also refers to Carmen Almendras, a former Bolivian ambassador to Spain, as one of the intermediaries in the early contacts. It also mentions Ana María Ospina, Gloria Group’s corporate affairs director, as part of the conversations that preceded the signing of the consultancy contract. Investigators reportedly reviewed messages, agendas and bank transfers as part of the case.
Spanish media have portrayed the chain of events — the interactions with Bolivian authorities, the temporary halt of the decision against SOBOCE, and the subsequent payments — as a key component in the police theory connecting the supposed mediation with Gloria Group’s business interests. Still, the case is under judicial review, and no definitive judgment has assigned criminal responsibility.
Zapatero’s circle maintains it has acted lawfully and rejects any allegations of misconduct, asserting the legitimacy of his professional work. At the same time, the situation has sparked political and judicial ripples in both Spain and Bolivia, where the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal has yet to issue its final ruling on the dispute between FANCESA and SOBOCE.
Origin: Infobae — ABC
