As tensions within the PSOE intensify, the Spanish government has reiterated its backing for José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero following fresh accusations linking the former prime minister to the €53 million rescue of Plus Ultra. Spain’s Council of Ministers authorized the financing package on March 9, 2021, during the COVID-19 crisis, and the state industrial holding company SEPI administered it. The case escalated after Julio Martínez Martínez, administrator of relevant analysis, reportedly described himself in court as an intermediary between Zapatero and Plus Ultra’s senior management. Testimony attributed to Martínez Martínez said he could not have done business with the airline in Venezuela without the former prime minister’s participation.
Following the latest cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Elma Saiz emphasized that the administration continues to believe in Zapatero’s innocence and upholds the presumption of innocence. She defended the legitimacy of the Plus Ultra rescue: SEPI’s technical services handled and approved the process. A Madrid court and the European Commission also reviewed it, and the Court of Auditors audited it. Saiz recalled that the EU Court of Justice had validated the aid scheme, insisting there was no doubt about the government’s actions.
The airline’s financial position has added urgency to scrutiny of the rescue. Plus Ultra is reportedly seeking a buyer while facing acute financial pressure, and must repay the €53 million to SEPI over the next two years. That obligation is a financial consequence of the 2021 package, not proof of the judicial allegations. The Audiencia Nacional investigation is examining whether funds were used to launder illicit money and whether a possible influence-peddling network was connected to the airline. The allegations remain under investigation, not established findings.
Despite the government’s assurances, the political fallout has deepened. The administrator of relevant analysis has reportedly reaffirmed earlier statements before investigating judge José Luis Calama, further complicating Zapatero’s position. Zapatero was formally named as a suspect on May 19 over allegations that he led a structured influence-peddling network. Since then, the official stance from both La Moncloa and Ferraz has remained unchanged, with PSOE leaders closing ranks around him. The reported allegations concern a criminal organization and influence peddling; they also include document falsification.
Testimony by Plus Ultra president Julio Martínez Sola has also drawn attention to alleged payments connected to efforts to secure government support. Information from Artículo14’s account of his testimony, Martínez Sola described contacts with what the company called the “Zapatero group” and said the company agreed to pay 1% of the anticipated rescue, about €530,000, “because of the uncertainty.” He reportedly could not identify a specific intervention by Zapatero at SEPI. The testimony does not, by itself, establish that Zapatero influenced approval of the rescue. The court is examining whether the alleged payments were for legitimate services or formed part of possible criminal conduct.
María Jesús Montero, deputy secretary general of the PSOE and head of the party in Andalusia, attributed the latest accusations to the defense strategy of Martínez and Martínez Sola, both of whom have implicated Zapatero in negotiations over the airline’s rescue. Zapatero, for his part, distanced himself from the aid during his testimony at the Audiencia Nacional last month. Montero said the accused had shifted their narrative, referring to the sentencing of José Luis Ábalos and the involvement of Víctor de Aldama. Aldama received a four-year sentence but was spared prison by the Supreme Court, while others received much harsher penalties.
Zapatero’s potential downfall would be a severe blow to the government, given his prominent role in recent general election campaigns and sensitive negotiations with Junts, including meetings with Carles Puigdemont in Switzerland. Senior government figures argue that the opposition, particularly the PP and Vox, are using the case to undermine the executive, even as Spain continues to post record employment and economic growth figures.
Discomfort within the PSOE is growing, especially among those further removed from the party’s central leadership. Rafael Escuredo, the first president of the Junta de Andalucía, publicly lamented on social media the damage caused by the allegations. Some regional leaders privately demand explanations from Zapatero, describing the situation as one of “moral corruption.” Most maintain a cautious tone in public. Castilla y León’s secretary general, Carlos Martínez, expressed continued trust in Zapatero but added that anyone found guilty should face consequences.
Frustration is also mounting over the origin of jewels valued at €1.3 million and found in Zapatero’s office safe. He requested a postponement of his statement on the matter after being charged with smuggling and tax offenses, according to the allegations described in the case. Some party officials recall that the items’ declared value was initially much lower and remain dissatisfied with the lack of clarity about their provenance. Separately, prosecutors have reportedly proposed investigating Zapatero for alleged misuse of public funds connected to jewelry found in his office. Judge Calama has sought state records concerning institutional gifts received by the Presidency during Zapatero’s terms in office. The jewelry inquiry is distinct from the question of whether the Plus Ultra rescue was lawful; neither measure amounts to a finding of criminal liability. The controversy is also fueled by contracts worth over €1 million between Whathefav S. L., a company owned by Zapatero’s daughters, and consultancies linked to the Venezuelan Amaro Chacón brothers.
One federal PSOE board member described the current predicament as a “labyrinth with no exit,” noting how difficult it is becoming to distance the party from Zapatero. Frustration is compounded by the perception that the party is being dragged into the scandal, while most members remain silent in public.
The Plus Ultra case has become a focal point for opposition attacks and internal party debate. The government’s insistence on procedural correctness and the presumption of innocence reflects its effort to contain the fallout. The case continues to attract national attention alongside other high-profile events, including the recent royal visit to Empúries. There, Princess Leonor joined Girona Foundation youth at a historic archaeological site. The visit added to the range of stories shaping Spain’s public agenda in 2026.
The Plus Ultra bailout was part of a broader government effort to support strategic companies during the pandemic, with SEPI overseeing the allocation of funds. Judge Calama’s ongoing investigation at the Audiencia Nacional is examining financial flows and alleged intermediary payments, including possible links between political contacts and commercial arrangements. Its outcome could have impressive implications for the PSOE’s internal dynamics and the government’s stability, while keeping public spending and corruption allegations under close scrutiny.
