The former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared before the National Court on Wednesday as an investigated individual in connection with the so-called "Plus Ultra case." During his three-hour interrogation, Zapatero denied having influenced the rescue package granted to the airline Plus Ultra, which received 53 million euros in public aid during the pandemic. He also categorically denied owning any companies outside Spain and did not comment on the jewelry found in a safe in his professional office. In a statement following his testimony, Zapatero defended his innocence and stated that he had submitted a voluntary authorization allowing the court to verify the non-existence of any companies, money, financial products, or other assets under his direct or indirect ownership. He emphasized that he has nothing outside Spain.
Formally, Zapatero is being investigated for four crimes—money laundering, influence peddling, tax evasion, and smuggling—with other potential charges also under consideration. The investigating judge, José Luis Calama, positions Zapatero as the leader of an organized structure engaged in illegal influence trading in exchange for payments. Relying primarily on intercepted communications with third parties, Calama indicates that Zapatero exercised strategic leadership and maintained high-level institutional and business contacts. Zapatero responded only to questions posed by the judge and his lawyer, the renowned procedural lawyer Víctor Moreno Catena. He categorically denied influencing the rescue of 53 million euros granted by the State Agency for Industrial Participation (SEPI), one of the alleged influence routes highlighted by Calama in his indictment. This is based, among other things, on communications intercepted by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations from the Venezuelan businessman Rodolfo Reyes Rojas, who was once the majority shareholder of Plus Ultra. One such message states, “I want to speak with SEPI, either him or Zapatero, and get at least verbal confirmation that they will grant us the help with 100% certainty,” a message the defense seeks to annul.
According to legal sources, Zapatero denied having had any contact with Plus Ultra executives. He claimed he met the current president, Julio Martínez Sola, in 2024, three years after the government approved the aid to the airline. Similarly, he denied maintaining contact with any officials regarding this matter—the indictment itself does not identify who might have influenced the decision. He also dissociated himself from the contract between Plus Ultra and Idella Consulenza Strategica, which is part of the corporate structure managed by his friend Julio Martínez Martínez. This agreement included a commission of 1% plus VAT on the approved aid, amounting to 530,000 euros.
As revealed exclusively by infoLibre, on March 17, 2021, eight days after the Council of Ministers finally approved the rescue, a company named Dubai Landside Middle East FZCO was registered, reportedly controlled entirely by Idella Consulenza Strategica. The judge claims Zapatero gave instructions for its creation. However, Zapatero denied having any companies abroad. “I have presented to the court a voluntary universal authorization to confirm the nonexistence of companies, money, financial products, or any asset under my direct or indirect ownership. Because I have absolutely nothing outside Spain,” he emphasized in a statement issued after his declaration.
Both investigators and the judge connect everything with the payments that Zapatero and the company run by his daughters—Whathefav—received from entities linked to the network. Particularly, from the consultancy Análisis Relevante, which has between...
The former prime minister published a full statement shortly after appearing before Judge José Luis Calama, who is investigating the 53 million euro rescue granted to the airline Plus Ultra. The judge accuses Zapatero of four crimes—influence peddling, money laundering, smuggling, and a crime against public finances.
Judge José Luis Calama rejected the imposition of precautionary measures for Zapatero after his appearance as an investigated person before the National Court. The magistrate concluded there is no risk of flight or destruction of evidence that would justify revoking his passport or requiring him to appear periodically before the court, given that he is a person of public notoriety. However, he noted that Zapatero’s statement did not serve to eliminate the indications against him.
The Public Prosecution Service Against Corruption had requested the judge to revoke Zapatero's passport, require him to appear before the court every 15 days, and prohibit him from leaving Spain without authorization. Popular accusations were divided. The PP, which leads the popular prosecution, had requested the same as the Public Prosecution Service—that Zapatero's passport be revoked and that he appear before the court every 15 days. The rest, Vox, Hazte Oír, and Iustitia Europa, wanted the former socialist leader to be placed under provisional arrest.
The ruling provides important updates on the status of the case. The judge considers that there are indications that part of the money from the Plus Ultra rescue may have passed through the accounts of the former prime minister. He also notes that the information found in the mobile phones seized in November, added to what was cloned in the United States from Rodolfo Reyes, former owner of Plus Ultra, in 2021, are indicators pointing to Zapatero.
In addition, Judge Calama adds the “use of multiple commercial companies that are indicatively instrumental,” without specifying which ones, and the jewels found in his office, about which the magistrate says neither their origin nor their corresponding tax and customs clearance has been proven.
During the interrogation by Magistrate José Luis Calama, which lasted three hours, Zapatero stated that he did not exercise any influence to favor the airline Plus Ultra in order for it to obtain the 53 million euro public rescue during the pandemic, according to legal sources familiar with the content of his statement. The former prime minister specified that he did not contact any official or authority regarding this rescue.
As expected, Zapatero did not answer questions related to the discovery of jewelry valued at 1.3 million euros in a safe in his office. In this regard, the former prime minister said he is gathering information and will request to testify on the matter within a week or ten days. His environment explained that part of the jewelry came from an inheritance of Sonsoles Espinosa, and another part was “gifts from travels.”
Zapatero is being investigated for his supposed role as the leader of an “organized and stable structure” dedicated to the illegal exercise of influence. In the case, indications of up to seven crimes are being investigated: organized crime, influence peddling, embezzlement, document forgery, money laundering, smuggling, and against public finances.
Zapatero arrived at the National Court on Wednesday fully aware that his words would have repercussions far beyond the room where Judge Instructor José Luis Calama was going to question him. The former prime minister, who was in power from 2004 to 2011 and has been an undisputed reference in the left in this last legislative period of Pedro Sánchez, left with the impression that it had been an “demanding interrogation,” but with the reassurance of having answered almost all the questions, according to sources close to him. He knew that not only the magistrate of the Plus Ultra case was expecting his explanations. And, over more than three hours, he defended his innocence: “It will take us more or less time to prove it, but the truth will prevail,” he added in a statement sent to the media after the declaration. However, for the judge, many mysteries remain to be clarified, investigations to be carried out, and suspicions that have not dissipated.
The audio of Zapatero’s declaration before the judge reveals: “I had no intervention. I didn’t talk to anyone, absolutely no one, from the public sector about the rescue of Plus Ultra. And that is an unquestionable truth.” Thus responded the former prime minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to Judge José Luis Calama during his interrogation on Wednesday at the National Court, according to the audio of that declaration, which elDiario.es has accessed.
The 53 million euro rescue granted to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic is at the origin of the investigations and was one of the issues focused on during the magistrate’s interrogation. Intercepted messages from other investigated individuals include “constant references” from Plus Ultra executives to using what they called the “Zapatero route” to overcome difficulties in processing the aid. They show confidence that the former prime minister would give a “technical touch from above,” boasting of having “the buddy Zapatero behind” them and admitting their willingness to pay bribes.
Before the judge, Zapatero defended that he had not exercised “any absolute influence” in the aforementioned rescue and maintained that “all” his “professional activity” had been conducted “according to legality.” He admitted only having spoken once with Banco Santander executive Juan Manuel Cendoya to receive executives of the airline in a “management similar” to what he has done for “many people.”
He did not sign a contract with Análisis Relevante
At the center of the investigations are the supposed consulting services he performed for Análisis Relevante, the consultancy of his friend Julio Martínez Martínez, for which he earned half a million euros. The thesis of the investigators is that, in reality, he was paid in exchange for mediating in the rescue of Plus Ultra and other practices of influence peddling, an extreme that Zapatero categorically denied. “This language I radically reject,” he replied when the magistrate asked him about the references from other indicted individuals to the supposed payment of a “
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infoLibreNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 85pred 18 dneviNekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero je pred nacionalnim sodiščem nastopil kot preiskovana oseba v primeru "Plus Ultra". Med svojim triurnim pričanjem je zanikal kakršnokoli vpletenost v reševanje podjetja Plus Ultra, kategorično zanikal, da ima podjetja zunaj Španije, in ni komentiral draguljev, zaseganih iz sefa v njegovi poklicni pisarni. Zapatero je v izjavi po svoji izjavi zagovarjal svojo nedolžnost in dejal, da je zagotovil "prostovoljno univerzalno pooblastilo" za preverjanje "neobstoja" "družb, denarja, finančnih produktov ali kakršnih koli sredstev" v zadevi "Plus Ultra".
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni Zapaterova zanikanja vpletenosti in njegova pravna obramba, ne da bi očitno naklonil nobeni strani.Vključuje podrobnosti iz preiskave in citate sodnika, ki je nadziral primer, in zagotavlja uravnotežen opis situacije.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 85): The article presents Zapatero’s denial of involvement in the Plus Ultra rescue and his defense of innocence. It includes quotes and legal context, aligning with other sources. It remains objective by focusing on statements and legal proceedings rather than opinion.
El PaísNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 85pred 18 dneviNekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero je objavil izjavo po svojem nastopu pred sodnikom nacionalnega sodišča José Luisom Calamo, ki preiskuje reševalni paket, ki ga je vlada zagotovila letalski družbi Plus Ultra v vrednosti 53 milijonov evrov.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja dejanske informacije brez očitno pristranskega jezika ali selektivnih virov in poroča o sodnih postopkih proti nekdanjemu voditelju, ne da bi sprejel jasno stališče ali poudaril določena stališča.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 85): The article accurately reports the judicial decision regarding Zapatero’s passport and the ongoing investigation. It presents the facts without bias, citing the judge’s reasoning and the positions of different parties involved.
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 85pred 18 dneviSodnik nacionalnega sodišča je zavrnil ukrepe, kot je preklic potnega lista za nekdanjega španskega predsednika vlade José Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera po njegovi razglasitvi za preiskovano osebo s strani nacionalnega sodišča. Sodnik je sklenil, da ni tveganja za beg ali uničenje dokazov, ki bi upravičilo takšne ukrepe, pri čemer je opozoril na Zapaterov javni profil. Vendar je sodnik poudaril, da Zapaterovo pričevanje ne odpravlja obstoječih sumov zoper njega.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja sodno odločitev, ne da bi očitno naklonil nobeni strani. Vključuje stališča tako tožilstva kot obrambe ter podrobnosti same sodne odločbe.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 85): This article accurately describes the court's rejection of measures against Zapatero and provides details on the legal proceedings. It remains objective by presenting facts without clear bias towards any political group.
El PaísNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 85pred 25 dnevi Zapatero zahteva od sodnika, da zahteva od ZDA več informacij o vratu mobilnega telefona lastnika Plus UltraAdvokat nekdanjega španskega predsednika vlade Josea Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera je od sodnika nacionalnega sodišča, ki nadzoruje zadevo Plus Ultra, prosil, naj od Združenih držav zahteva več informacij o okoliščinah, v katerih je bil v letu 2021 zaprt mobilni telefon lastnika letalske družbe Rodolfa Reyeza.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni pravni argumenti, ki jih je predložila Zapaterojeva obramna ekipa, ne da bi javno podprla katero od strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 85): This article clearly explains the U.S. border inspection policies and how they apply to individuals like Rodolfo Reyes. It references official sources such as the CBP and provides context about the legality of device inspections. The tone is informative and objective, presenting facts without overt
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 90Objektivnost 80pred 25 dnevi Zapatero poziva sodnika, naj zahteva več informacij od ZDA o tem, kako je dobil ključni dokaz za obtožbo.Obramba nekdanjega španskega predsednika vlade Josea Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera je sodniku nacionalnega sodišča Joséa Luisa Calame predložila dokument, v katerem izraža dvome glede pridobitve in pravilnega ravnanja s mobilnimi telefoni, ki so jih ameriški agenti v letu 2021 presreli od Rodolfa Reyesa, poslovnika, ki je bil takrat glavni delničar Plus Ultra.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni dejstva, ne da bi javno podprli katero od strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 90 · Objektivnost 80): This article presents the defense's request for more information from the US regarding evidence against Zapatero with factual details. It remains neutral in tone, focusing on procedural aspects rather than taking sides, though it does highlight concerns about due process.
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 80pred 23 dnevi Nova preiskava Zapatera zaradi draguljev, ki so jih zaplenili v njegovi pisarni, otežuje njegovo sodno prihodnost.Nekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero se sooča z novimi pravnimi zapletami zaradi preiskave nakita, ki je bila najdena v sejfu v njegovi pisarni.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni dejanski podrobnosti o potekajoči preiskavi, ne da bi javno podprli katero koli stran.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 80): The article explains the delivery of key recordings by the Trump administration to the UDEF before Zapatero's indictment, offering relevant context without bias.
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 80pred 26 dnevi ZDA so pet let potisnile v Španijo klepet venezuelskega podjetnika, ki so bile ključne za obtožbo ZapaterojuŠpanski sodnik je naročil izdajo evropskega raziskovalnega naloga za pridobivanje podatkov o mobilnem klepetanju od venezuelskega poslovnega človeka Rodolfa Reyesa, ki je bil ključnega pomena pri vpletitvi bivšega predsednika vlade Josea Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera v primer o prodaji vpliva.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so podrobne dejanske podrobnosti o pravnih postopkih in časovnih rokov, ne da bi javno podpirali politične strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 80): This article repeats the core information from previous reports about the U.S. sending the phone data and the judge’s request to use it as evidence. It is factual but slightly less detailed compared to earlier articles, yet remains objective.
El PaísNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 75pred 18 dnevi Sodnik obsoja Zapateroja po zahtevnem zaslišanju in štirih odkritih dokazihNekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero se je v okviru primera Plus Ultra pojavil pred nacionalnim sodiščem. Zaslišanje je opisal kot "zahtevno", vendar je dejal, da je odgovoril na večino vprašanj. Zapatero je vztrajal pri svoji nedolžnosti in dejal, da bo resnica sčasoma prišla na dan. Sodnik ima še vedno veliko neodgovorjenih vprašanj in sumov, ki jih mora preiskati.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni dejstva, ne da bi se očitno zavzemali za katero koli stran.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 75): The article provides detailed information about Zapatero’s interrogation and his defense of innocence, aligning with other reports on the case. However, it includes some subjective phrasing like ‘interrogatorio exigente’ and quotes Zapatero’s statement, which may reflect a slight bias toward his pos
infoLibreNeodvisenLevoDejstva 85Objektivnost 75pred 24 dnevi Sodišče je v dveh primerih razveljavilo dokaze ameriške agencije, ki so na Zapatero.José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, ki ga španski nacionalni sodišče preiskuje kot potencialnega voditelja kriminalne organizacije, ki je med drugimi obtožbami vpletena v trgovino z vplivom, je zahteval, da se preiskovalci zadeve poskušajo od Združenih držav poiskati informacije o tem, kako so preiskave v zvezi z notranjo varnostjo (HSI) pridobile ključni dokaz proti njemu.
Ocena pristranskosti (Levo): V članku je Zapatero predstavljen kot obtožen, ki želi izpodbijati veljavnost dokazov, ki so jih pridobili ZDA, kar bi lahko spodkopavalo preiskavo.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 75): The article accurately describes Zapatero’s request for more information from the U.S. regarding evidence obtained by the HSI. It provides details about the case and the potential implications for the investigation, aligning with the cross-source consensus. The tone remains relatively neutral, thoug
infoLibreNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 75pred 25 dnevi Zaščita Zapatera poziva, naj se od ZDA zahtevajo ključne podatke o sporočilih, ki so sledili bivšem predsednikuOdbrambna ekipa nekdanjega španskega predsednika vlade Josea Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera je zahtevala, da se od Združenih držav Amerike pridobijo ključne informacije v zvezi z sporočili, povezanimi z njegovo preiskavo. Pravna skupina, ki jo vodi znani procesni odvetnik Víctor Moreno Catena, je predložila Nacionalnemu sodišču dokument, v katerem je raziskovalca, sodnik José Luis Calama, prosil, naj razširiti sodni zahtevek do ZDA, da pridobi podatke o telefonskem odpadu poslovnika Rodolfa Reyeza Rojasa, ki je bil glavni delničar zadevne družbe.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so bile navedene dejanske podrobnosti o pravnih postopkih, ki so vključevali nekdanjega predsednika vlade, ne da bi javno podpirali politične strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 75): The article provides detailed information about Zapatero's defense requesting data from the US, citing specific messages found in Rojas' phone. The facts align with the cross-source consensus, though some phrases like 'parquedad' may imply bias.
infoLibreNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 85Objektivnost 65pred 26 dnevi ZDA so policiji poslale ključne sporočila proti Zapateru po "ne vojni" Sancheza TrumpaIzvedbena podružnica ameriškega oddelka za notranjo varnost je po nedavnih diplomatskih napetostih med Španijo in ZDA Španski policiji poslala ključne sporočila, povezane z nekdanjim španskim predsednikom Joséom Luisom Rodríguezom Zapateroom.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so bile navedene dejanske podrobnosti o prenosu dokazov med ameriškimi in španskimi oblastmi, ne da bi javno podpirale politične strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 85 · Objektivnost 65): Article provides details about the case involving Zapatero and mentions the involvement of UDEF and HSI, but lacks clarity on the full context of the investigation. It references a legal document but does not provide enough information to verify its accuracy. The tone leans towards sensationalism, s
El PaísNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 80Objektivnost 85pred 25 dnevi Od kod prihaja mobilna telefonka, ki jo je sodnik zahteval od ZDA v zadevi o Zapatero? Zakaj je bila predana Španiji pet let kasneje?Španski sodnik je zahteval sodelovanje ameriških organov za dostop do vsebine mobilnega telefona, ki je bil prej kloniran brez sodnega dovoljenja.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so bile navedene dejanske informacije o pravnem postopku, v katerem je sodeloval visokih predstavnikov, ne da bi javno podprl politično stran.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 80 · Objektivnost 85): The article provides factual information about the closure of a brothel and the resulting protest. It includes quotes from demonstrators and describes the legal action taken by the court. The reporting remains neutral and objective.
El MundoNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 80Objektivnost 75pred 25 dneviObramba nekdanjega španskega predsednika vlade Josea Luisa Rodrígueza Zapatera je zahtevala podrobne informacije od ameriških organov o tem, kako so pridobili vsebino mobilnega telefona, ki naj bi Zapatera vpletela v primer Plus Ultra. Telefon je bil v lasti venezuelskega poslovnega človeka Rodolfa Reyes Rojas, ki je imel Plus Ultra med operacijo, ki je vključevala v odpravo 53 milijonov evrov od španske vlade.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so predstavljeni pravni argumenti, ki jih je predložila Zapaterojeva obramba, ne da bi javno podpirala nobene strani.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 80 · Objektivnost 75): Article focuses on Cerdán’s personal experience and his critique of the narrative around him. It includes subjective reflections but remains grounded in reported events.
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 80Objektivnost 65pred 17 dnevi Posnetki Zapaterove izjave pred sodnikom: "Nisem se vmešal v reševanje Plus Ultre in to je nedvomna resnica"V zaslišanju na nacionalnem sodišču je nekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero zanikal kakršnokoli vpletenost v reševanje za 53 milijonov evrov, odobreno letalski družbi Plus Ultra med pandemijo.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja Zapaterovo zanikanje vpletenosti v reševanje Plus Ultra, ne da bi očitno zagovarjal njegove trditve ali posledice prestreženih sporočil.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 80 · Objektivnost 65): The article discusses allegations against Zapatero and mentions the valuation of jewels, which is factually presented. However, the tone leans towards sensationalism, suggesting possible contraband rather than presenting evidence objectively.
elDiario.esNeodvisenSredinaDejstva 70Objektivnost 65pred 19 dnevi Od reševanja Plus Ultre do plačil svojim hčeram: Zapatero govori pred sodnikom v primeru, ki preiskuje sedem kaznivih dejanjNekdanji španski premier José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero se bo pojavil pred nacionalnim sodiščem kot preiskovana oseba v primeru, ki vključuje do sedem domnevnih kaznivih dejanj, vključno z organiziranim kriminalom, trgovino z vplivom in davčnim utajo. Preiskava izvira iz reševalnega paketa v višini 53 milijonov evrov, ki je bil med pandemijo odobren letalski družbi Plus Ultra. Zapatero se bo pojavil pred sodnikom José Luisom Calamo, ki je prej obravnaval primere, kot sta blackout leta 2025 in škandal s špijunskim programom Pegasus. Pričakuje se, da bo med obravnavo odgovarjal samo svojemu odvetniku in sodniku.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): Članek predstavlja dejanske informacije o sodnih postopkih proti nekdanjemu predsedniku brez očitno pristranskega jezika ali selektivnega pridobivanja virov.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 70 · Objektivnost 65): Focuses more on political implications and internal party dynamics rather than the legal aspects. Less factual depth compared to others and shows some bias in emphasizing Zapatero’s impact on the PSOE.
El ConfidencialNeodvisen🔒SredinaDejstva 70Objektivnost 60pred 27 dneviV članku piše, da so ZDA marca poslali ključni mobilni telefon v zvezi z zadevo Zapatero, sodnik pa je zahteval, da ga uporabimo kot dokaz.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): V članku so brez očitne predsodke predstavljene dejanske informacije, ki se osredotočajo na pravni proces in sodelovanje mednarodnih subjektov.
Zakaj te ocene (Dejstva 70 · Objektivnost 60): The article shifts focus to Pedro Sánchez and his potential imputation, which is not central to the main event being reported. It introduces a different angle without sufficient context, leading to lower factuality and objectivity scores.
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