Spain’s former PM Zapatero questioned by judge in corruption probe
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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former prime minister of Spain, appeared before a judge in Madrid on Wednesday in connection with his alleged role in a government airline bailout and links to jewelry discovered in a police raid on his office.
It was Zapatero’s first appearance before the National Court judge since being placed under investigation last month for alleged influence peddling, money laundering and other possible financial wrongdoing related to the Spanish government’s rescue of the Plus Ultra airline.
Zapatero, 65, who was prime minister from 2004 to 2011, had been out of public office for a decade when Plus Ultra received 53 million euros ($61.5 million) in public money in 2021 from a COVID-19 recovery fund.
Judge José Luis Calama is also examining a possible case of tax fraud and dealing in contraband related to jewelry worth 1.3 million euros ($1.5 million) discovered in a safe by police during a search of Zapatero’s office in May.
Zapatero has denied any wrongdoing in the airline case and has said the jewelry was inherited or received as gifts.
Zapatero remains an important figure for the Socialist party led by current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose party has been rocked by corruption scandals over the past two years.
Plus Ultra, which had investors from Venezuela, was an airline specializing in flights between Spain and South America.
Since leaving office, Zapatero has focused on maintaining dialogue with the government in Venezuela, which was largely isolated from Western countries after it cracked down on the democratic opposition.
In a statement released to local media, Zapatero on Wednesday again denied any wrongdoing. He said he has no wealth outside Spain and he trusted the justice system.
“I have been accused of serious crimes that I did not commit,” his statement read. “I have always acted with decency and honor, and now I am faced with the task of demonstrating it.”
After listening to Zapatero for two-and-a-half hours, the judge rejected requests by state prosecutors to confiscate his passport, arguing that the former prime minister was neither a flight risk nor a threat to destroy evidence.
In Spain, an investigative judge probes suspicions of a crime and can recommend a case go to trial if there is sufficient evidence. A different judge then oversees the trial phase. The process can take months or longer.