Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under criminal investigation for alleged influence peddling related to a €53 million ($62 million) government bailout of Plus Ultra airline during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Court in Madrid has summoned him to testify on June 2 as part of an ongoing probe into potential improper lobbying and financial wrongdoing.
Key Takeaways
Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero faces criminal investigation over alleged influence peddling in a €53 million airline bailout during COVID-19. Prosecutors examine claims of improper lobbying and potential money laundering involving Venezuelan funds. Zapatero denies wrongdoing, asserting compliance with the law.
- Former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero under criminal investigation for influence peddling in €53 million airline bailout
- Probe examines alleged kickbacks up to $2.4 million and potential money laundering involving Venezuelan funds
- Zapatero denies wrongdoing, asserts compliance with the law
- Opposition criticizes current government amid separate corruption probes
The investigation focuses on whether Zapatero received kickbacks of up to $2.4 million for influencing Spanish leaders to award the bailout, according to UPI. Prosecutors are examining allegations that Plus Ultra made inadequate use of public funds and may have used rescue money to launder funds from Venezuela through France, Switzerland, and Spain.
The airline's bailout was approved by the Spanish government in March 2021. Zapatero served as prime minister from 2004 to 2011, with his alleged wrongdoing occurring about a decade after leaving office. This marks the first time a former Spanish prime minister has been named in a criminal investigation.
Zapatero denies any wrongdoing and asserts all his activities have complied with the law. "All my public and private actions have always been carried out in full compliance with the law," he said in a video statement. The airline, Plus Ultra, has not publicly commented on the allegations.
The case draws political attention as Zapatero is a member of the Socialist party headed by current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Opposition conservatives criticize Sánchez's administration amid separate corruption probes involving figures close to him. "The racket is collapsing, and the kingpins of the plot are starting to fall," said Miguel Ángel Tellado, parliamentary spokesman for the Popular Party.
Plus Ultra, a Spanish-owned airline with Venezuelan investors, specialized in flights between Spain and South America. The bailout remains politically controversial due to concerns about its financial viability and ownership links to Venezuelan businessmen close to former President Nicolás Maduro's government.
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