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 denied any illegal conduct and insists he never used his former political position to influence government decisions related to the airline bailout. The former Socialist leader maintains that all his professional activities have been lawful and transparent.
The police action promptly ignited political debate across Spain, as opposition parties sharpened their accusations against the government and pressed for a comprehensive explanation of the former prime minister’s supposed ties to the case, while members of the Socialist Party urged respect for the presumption of innocence throughout the ongoing investigation.
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
