Spain is going through one of the biggest political earthquakes since the return of democracy. Former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a historic leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), was officially charged by the National Court in the context of the so-called “Plus Ultra case”, becoming the first former head of a democratic Spanish government to face a judicial investigation with a real possibility of imprisonment.
The case investigates alleged irregularities linked to the state rescue of 53 million euros granted to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic. Judge José Luis Calama accuses Zapatero of alleged criminal organization, influence peddling, document forgery, and money laundering, in a case that directly impacts Spanish socialism and threatens to generate politically significant consequences.
According to judicial documents released in recent hours, investigators claim that the former PSOE leader used his political and business influence to favor operations related to the financial rescue of the airline. The investigation also involves businessmen close to Zapatero and various companies allegedly used to move funds and conceal economic operations linked to the case.
The scandal has a huge symbolic impact in Spain. Since the democratic transition initiated after the death of Francisco Franco, no former Prime Minister has been formally charged in a corruption case of such gravity. The possibility that a former socialist head of government could end up facing prison sentences has opened a strong political and media crisis across the country.
