Sánchez rallies behind Zapatero, calls for ‘respect for the presumption of innocence’

The development marks a dramatic escalation in a case that has intensified pressure on Sánchez’s government, already weakened by a succession of corruption investigations involving relatives and former political allies, as well as a series of damaging regional election defeats. ALSO READ: Andalusia leaves Sánchez politically weakened as Spain edges further towards a PP-Vox era.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday in his first public comments since the court’s announcement that Zapatero was being summoned, Sánchez defended his predecessor while insisting he respected the judicial process.

‘Full collaboration with the justice system, full respect for the presumption of innocence, and my full support for president Zapatero,’ Sánchez told MPs amid jeers from the opposition (see below).

The Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s top criminal court, said on Tuesday that Zapatero would be summoned to testify on 2 June as part of an investigation into an alleged network accused of using political influence and opaque financial structures to secure public funds for third parties — principally airline Plus Ultra, which received a €53 million state rescue package during the Covid-19 pandemic. ALSO READ: Former Spanish PM Zapatero faces corruption probe over airline bailout.

Investigating judge José Luis Calama said there were indications that the alleged scheme used shell companies, simulated documents and ‘opaque financial channels’ to ‘conceal the origin and destination of funds’ of around €1.95 million.

According to the court, Zapatero will be questioned as the ‘alleged head of a stable and hierarchical influence-peddling structure’. Authorities are also examining further possible commissions and financial flows connected to the operation.

Zapatero, who governed Spain from 2004 to 2011 and remains politically active within the socialist movement, has categorically denied any wrongdoing.

He reiterated on Tuesday that he had never received payments from Plus Ultra and insisted he had committed no crime.

While several former Spanish prime ministers have previously testified in corruption-related cases, this is the first time in Spain’s modern democratic history that a former head of government has been placed under formal criminal investigation.

The case has also acquired an international dimension after the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that it assisted Spanish investigators in the probe.

A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of DHS, said its Madrid office had ‘assisted the Spanish National Police in an investigation into the laundering of international public funds’ that ultimately contributed to the proceedings against Zapatero.

‘While we cannot comment on the specifics of the criminal investigation at this time, HSI remains committed to working with its international partners to fight global crime, protect our communities, and uphold the rule of law,’ the spokesperson said.

The court revealed that HSI extracted information from a mobile device belonging to Rodolfo Reyes — a figure linked to Plus Ultra who is also under investigation — before passing the material to Spanish police.

Zapatero has remained an influential figure within Spanish and international politics since leaving office. In recent years he has emerged as one of Sánchez’s most loyal defenders despite not originally belonging to the prime minister’s inner political circle.

He recently campaigned at PSOE rallies during the Andalusian regional elections and has also acted internationally as a mediator with the Venezuelan government in efforts to secure the release of political prisoners. ALSO READ: PP wins Andalusia election but loses majority, leaving it reliant on far-right Vox.

The scandal has further sharpened attacks from Spain’s opposition.

Right-wing People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Sánchez of coming to power in order to ‘plunder everything’ and claimed the country was being governed by corrupt figures.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, asked MPs (see below): ‘How is it possible that the only doubt is whether Sánchez is the boss or the partner of Zapatero and that he still hasn’t resigned?’

Gabriel Rufián, spokesman for the Catalan left-wing Esquerra Republicana (ERC) party and usually a parliamentary ally of Sánchez, also voiced alarm over the allegations.

‘Where does lobbying end and influence peddling begin? If this is true, it’s shit,’ Rufián told parliament (see below).

Despite mounting political pressure, Sánchez has ruled out the possibility of calling a snap general election.