Spanish Police Search Zapatero’s Office Amid Expanding Plus Ultra Investigation
Spain’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) has carried out a search of an office associated with former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, advancing the ongoing inquiry into the contentious bailout granted to airline Plus Ultra. The move represents a major step forward in the judicial investigation, which is assessing suspected influence peddling and potential criminal conduct connected to the pandemic-era rescue plan.
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 keeps driving significant political and judicial fallout across Spain, largely due to the prominent individuals now tied to the investigation and the mounting scrutiny over how public funds were handled during the pandemic era.
Source: OKDIARIO – https://okdiario.com/espana/udef-registra-despacho-jose-luis-rodriguez-zapatero-plus-ultra-16826260
