Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will begin two days of unprecedented court hearings on Wednesday on suspicion of influence peddling, the latest corruption scandal to threaten the leftist government.
The probe into the socialist titan comes as a string of corruption probes into Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s family and former key political allies have threatened to topple his minority coalition.
Clashes with US President Donald Trump and virulent criticism of Israel have made Sanchez a global progressive star, but the scandals have eroded the domestic standing of one of Europe’s few remaining socialist leaders.
Zapatero, who governed Spain from 2004 to 2011, came under official investigation last month over suspected influence-peddling in connection with the 2021 bailout of small airline Plus Ultra.
Plus Ultra received 53 million euros ($61.5 million) in public money after the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed global travel.
Investigating judge Jose Luis Calama has said Zapatero allegedly ran a “stable and hierarchical” structure that used “obscure financial channels” to hide the movement of money and take bribes for his illegal maneuvers.
Zapatero has denied the accusations, while Sanchez has expressed “full support” for his mentor.
A police search of Zapatero’s office found jewelry and luxury watches worth 1.3 million euros, prompting Calama to investigate other suspected tax fraud and smuggling offenses.
Zapatero’s entourage attributes the treasure to a family heirloom.
Zapatero will speak at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid from 09:00 (0700 GMT) – becoming the first former or sitting Spanish prime minister to be declared a suspect in a corruption investigation.
“What is at stake is the reputation of someone who has become… the moral beacon of Pedro Sanchez and the current Socialist party,” Astrid Barrio, a professor of political science at the University of Valencia, told AFP.
Government under threat
Sanchez vowed to clean up Spanish politics upon taking power in 2018 after the main conservative People’s Party was condemned over its corruption scandal.
But a two-year investigation into his wife Begona Gomez for alleged influence peddling has already rocked the government, with a decision to put her on trial likely within days.
Verdicts are also expected in separate corruption trials of Sanchez’s former right-hand man, Jose Luis Abalos, and his brother David Sanchez.
Recent revelations about an ongoing police investigation into a former socialist activist suspected of leading a plot to sabotage investigations into Sanchez’s impeachment have heaped further pressure on the government.
Amid a relentless stream of negative headlines, the Socialists have suffered four regional election upsets since the end of 2025, as a possible precursor to next year’s national vote.
The conservative and far-right opposition have called for Sanchez’s resignation and early elections, saying the scandals have exposed systemic socialist corruption.
Sanchez insists his government will extend its mandate until 2027.
But researcher Barrio said “two very serious issues” could bring him down: his being placed under investigation or allegations of illegal funding against the Socialists.
(cz)
