Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso has criticized Spain's tax authorities for their absence from high-profile corruption investigations involving the PSOE and the national government. Speaking in Buitrago del Lozoya, Ayuso described as "suspicious" the lack of fiscal inspections targeting people connected to ongoing corruption scandals, especially those with ties to the government or the Socialist Party.
Her comments followed a decision by National Court judge José Luis Calama to invite the Agencia Tributaria to join the investigation into the Plus Ultra case, which includes the discovery of valuable jewels in the office of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The case centers on alleged irregularities surrounding a €53 million state rescue granted to the airline during the pandemic. Ayuso argued that tax inspections should be conducted thoroughly and impartially, as in other cases. She said her call was not about revenge, but about ensuring objectivity and consistency in the application of the law.
The jewelry inquiry is being handled in a separate part of the broader Plus Ultra proceedings. Police found the items in a safe at Zapatero’s office on Madrid’s Ferraz street during a search on 19 May; their provisional market value has been reported at €1.3 million. Zapatero’s defense says the jewelry was an official gift from the Saudi monarch during a 2007 visit and has sought a judicial commission to Saudi Arabia to verify that account. On 23 October 2026, Calama instead first ordered Spain’s Subdirectorate-General for State Heritage to provide records of institutional gifts received by the Presidency during Zapatero’s two terms, 2004 to 2008 and 2008 to 2011. The court order called for the records “as soon as possible” and set a two-day deadline.
The records are intended to help establish whether the seized items correspond to gifts formally recorded by the state and whether they should have been transferred to State Heritage after Zapatero left office. The Fiscalía Anticorrupción has asked investigators to examine possible contraband or tax fraud, along with potential misappropriation of public funds. These remain matters under investigation: the records request is a fact-finding step, not a ruling on the jewelry’s ownership or on criminal responsibility.
Selective scrutiny by authorities has become a flashpoint in Spanish politics, and Ayuso's remarks add to the debate over transparency and accountability. Other regions are also experiencing political tension. In Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno has made efforts to secure a last-minute agreement with Vox, but the process remains unresolved and could influence the broader political climate. For more on the developing situation, see the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations between Moreno and Vox.
Ayuso also expressed solidarity with Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes. She said Madrid stands ready to assist, offering the expertise of ERICAM, the region's emergency response team specializing in earthquake rescue and medical support. The regional government has set up dedicated phone lines and email contacts to coordinate aid. The Real Casa de Correos will be illuminated in the colors of the Venezuelan flag as a gesture of support for the Venezuelan community in Madrid and abroad.
Spain's tax agency, the Agencia Tributaria, is responsible for enforcing fiscal compliance and can take part in judicial investigations when financial irregularities are suspected. The Plus Ultra proceedings bring together scrutiny of the airline’s pandemic-era rescue and a separate evidentiary inquiry into the provenance and legal status of the jewelry. ERICAM has previously participated in international disaster relief efforts, reflecting Madrid's commitment to humanitarian response. The debate over political accountability and the regional government's response to international aid highlight the challenges facing Spain's institutions in 2026.
