Spain Rocked as Former PM Zapatero Faces Corruption Probe Over Airline Bailout

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under formal investigation in a widening corruption scandal linked to the controversial state bailout of airline Plus Ultra.

Spain’s High Court announced that Zapatero is being investigated for alleged influence peddling and related financial crimes connected to the €53 million rescue package granted to Plus Ultra during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities searched his Madrid office along with several associated properties, while the former leader has been summoned to testify before a judge on June 2.

The case centers on claims that Zapatero played a key role in pushing for the bailout despite concerns about the airline’s financial viability and its reported links to Venezuelan investors. Investigators are examining whether political influence was used to secure government approval for the rescue package through Spain’s state holding company SEPI.

Spanish businessman Víctor de Aldama, who is already implicated in other corruption investigations, has alleged that Zapatero received millions of euros in commissions tied to the operation. Prosecutors are also examining payments linked to businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, widely known as “Julito,” who authorities believe may hold crucial information about the connections between Plus Ultra and senior political figures.

Zapatero has denied all wrongdoing and insists he never received illegal payments connected to the airline bailout. His allies within the Socialist Party have defended him, accusing political opponents and conservative groups of attempting to weaponize the judiciary against left-wing leaders.

The investigation marks a historic moment in modern Spanish politics. According to Reuters, Zapatero is the first former Spanish prime minister since the country’s return to democracy to face a formal judicial investigation of this magnitude.

The scandal is also increasing pressure on current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose government has already faced mounting scrutiny over a series of corruption allegations involving political allies and family members. Opposition parties, including the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Vox movement, have seized on the latest developments to intensify demands for accountability and political reform.

Zapatero, who served as Spain’s prime minister from 2004 to 2011, remains a highly influential figure within Spanish politics and international diplomacy. During his years in office, he became known for progressive reforms including the legalization of same-sex marriage and efforts to modernize Spain’s social policies. In recent years, he has also acted as a mediator in Latin American political disputes, particularly involving Venezuela.

The Plus Ultra bailout has been controversial since it was approved in 2021, with critics arguing the airline lacked strategic importance and should not have qualified for emergency public funding. Supporters of the bailout defended the measure at the time as necessary to protect jobs and maintain air connectivity during the pandemic-induced economic crisis.

As the investigation unfolds, the case is expected to dominate Spanish political debate in the coming weeks, potentially reshaping public trust in the country’s political institutions ahead of future elections.