Spanish Police Search Zapatero’s Office Amid Expanding Plus Ultra Investigation
Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) has searched an office linked to former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as part of the ongoing investigation into the controversial bailout of airline Plus Ultra. The operation marks a significant escalation in the judicial probe examining alleged influence peddling and possible criminal activities surrounding the rescue package approved during the pandemic.
Investigators indicated that the search had been approved as part of a wider probe overseen by Spain’s National Court into alleged irregularities involving the distribution of public funds to the airline, and officers were said to have collected documents and electronic data regarded as pertinent to the investigation.
The investigation focuses on whether political and business figures may have intervened improperly in favor of Plus Ultra, which received millions of euros in state aid despite questions raised at the time regarding the company’s financial viability and strategic importance. Authorities are also examining the role of consulting firms and intermediaries allegedly connected to the operation.
Zapatero has rejected any wrongdoing and maintains he never relied on his previous political role to sway government decisions concerning the airline bailout, while the former Socialist leader asserts that his professional actions have always been carried out legally and with full transparency.
The police operation immediately fueled political debate across Spain. Opposition parties intensified their criticism of the government and demanded full clarification regarding the former prime minister’s alleged links to the case. Meanwhile, members of the Socialist Party called for respect for the presumption of innocence while the investigation remains ongoing.
The Plus Ultra affair continues to generate major political and judicial repercussions in Spain, particularly because of the high-profile figures now connected to the inquiry and the scrutiny surrounding the management of pandemic-era public funds.
Reference: OKDIARIO – https://okdiario.com/espana/udef-registra-despacho-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero-plus-ultra-16826260
