Spain’s National Court has decided not to restrict the movements of former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, despite ongoing suspicions in the Plus Ultra investigation. Examining magistrate José Luis Calama rejected requests from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor and the Partido Popular to seize Zapatero’s passport or bar him from leaving Spain. They also sought to require him to report to court every two weeks. The judge said Zapatero’s public profile and strong ties to Spain made the risk of flight unlikely.
The court nevertheless found that Zapatero’s testimony had not dispelled the indications of possible criminality under investigation. The case file includes traceable bank transfers involving Zapatero and funds connected to the state-backed financing granted to Plus Ultra. It also examines the alleged use of companies to channel payments. The financing, €53 million approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers on 9 March 2021 and administered through the State Industrial Holdings Company (SEPI), was granted during the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigators are examining whether payments linked to the rescue were legitimate compensation or connected to possible criminal conduct, including money laundering and influence peddling. Testimony reported in the case includes that of Julio Martínez Martínez, administrator of relevant analysis, who told Judge Calama he relayed information about Plus Ultra’s financing needs to Zapatero. The airline’s owner has also reportedly told the judge that about €500,000 was paid to people in Zapatero’s orbit, describing it as a 1% payment made before the company knew whether it would receive assistance. These accounts remain evidence under examination, not judicial findings of guilt.
One element cited in the proceedings is jewelry valued at €1.3 million seized from Zapatero. Authorities have said the items’ origin and their tax and customs status have not been clarified. The judge also referred to material obtained from the mobile phone of Rodolfo Reyes, Plus Ultra’s former owner, which U.S. authorities sent to Spain. Separately, police investigators are examining communications and financial links involving former company figures and intermediaries. The inquiry is assessing the significance of that material as a whole.
Judge Calama ruled that indications alone did not justify exceptional measures restricting Zapatero’s freedom of movement. He said relevant evidence had already been secured and that Zapatero’s public profile made it difficult for him to evade justice. He also dismissed concerns that Zapatero could destroy or conceal evidence, reasoning that the investigation did not depend at this stage on actions he could take.
Instead of imposing travel restrictions, the court asked Zapatero to provide a telephone number and email address so he could be contacted promptly if necessary. The judge considered additional restrictions disproportionate and warned they could amount to a premature penalty.
The case remains in the pretrial investigation phase, when the court gathers testimony and documentary evidence before deciding whether proceedings should advance. Zapatero is among those under investigation over alleged offenses that reporting has described as including criminal organization and influence peddling, alongside documentary falsification. No final judgment has established the allegations. Further inquiries could strengthen or weaken the suspicions, while the case continues to draw attention to oversight of public aid and the accountability of senior officials.
