Former Spanish PM Zapatero Named Suspect in Money Laundering Case — First Time in History

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been named as a suspect in the Plus Ultra airline case. For the first time in the country's democratic history, a former head of government has become a defendant in a criminal investigation into money laundering. The National Court has lifted a reporting ban on the proceedings and summoned Zapatero for questioning on 2 June.

Simultaneously, officers from the National Police's economic and tax crimes unit carried out searches at Zapatero's Madrid office, at the headquarters of his daughters' agency Whathefav, and at two other firms connected to the case.

What is Zapatero suspected of?

Zapatero is suspected of four offences: money laundering, abuse of public office, participation in a criminal organisation, and document fraud. The investigation relates to state aid granted to Plus Ultra. In March 2021, the government provided the airline with €53 million as a pandemic relief measure. Investigators are examining the theory that these funds were used to launder money from Venezuelan officials who had received it through Chávez-era food aid programmes and gold trading.

According to the judge's ruling, Zapatero was the leader of a "hierarchical structure" that exerted influence "within state institutions" in exchange for "benefits." The judge states that the former prime minister was "the main ultimate beneficiary of the income received" and used his influence to secure the state aid payment to Plus Ultra.

The ruling states that on Zapatero's own instructions, an offshore company — Landside Dubai Fzco — was registered, which was owned by another firm, Idella Consulenza Strategica. The latter concluded a contract with Plus Ultra to receive 1% of the state aid amount (€530,000). Individuals close to the former prime minister allegedly received a total of €1,948,857, the judge states.

Other figures in the Plus Ultra money laundering case

At the centre of the scheme is the consultancy firm Análisis Relevante, whose sole administrator is listed as Julio Martínez Martínez — a longstanding friend of Zapatero. The company received around €460,000 from Plus Ultra over five years and paid the former prime minister approximately €463,000 for "comprehensive consultancy" services.

Zapatero's daughters' company, Whathefav, also had contracts with Análisis Relevante — worth, according to the ex-prime minister himself, a total of €198,000. On 11 December 2025, during a search of Martínez Martínez's premises, more than €300,000 in cash was discovered. On the same day, Plus Ultra president Julio Martínez Sola and the company's managing director, Roberto Roselli, were detained.

Following Martínez's arrest, the People's Party summoned the former prime minister to appear before the Senate investigative committee. Zapatero acknowledged a business relationship with Martínez but insisted everything had been lawful and that payments were made "against invoices" in exchange for services actually rendered. He said he had met his friend three days before his arrest for a run together and denied having warned him about anything. "He is my friend, and I repeat once more that he never asked me for anything unusual," Zapatero said.

Zapatero's response to the accusations

"I never approached any state authority regarding financial aid for Plus Ultra. I have never owned a company, either in Spain or abroad. I will defend my right to a defence with complete confidence," Zapatero said in response to the news of his summons.

According to reports from international organisations and rankings, the situation with corruption in Spain has been deteriorating year on year. La Cotorra has previously examined the roots of Spanish political corruption and whether the situation can truly be considered catastrophic.