Court Points to Key Role of Zapatero in Venezuelan Oil Deals. A judge of the Audiencia Nacional believes that Zapatero played a central role in a scheme to sell Venezuelan oil. The case files include letters addressed to him and records of large money transfers. Investigators link this to influence over international transactions.
The investigation into the Plus Ultra case continues in Spain, centering on former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional stated that Zapatero played a decisive role in organizing deals for the sale of Venezuelan oil. According to the court, potential buyers were required to send letters of intent directly addressed to the former head of government, which, in the view of investigators, demonstrates his influence and direct access to the highest political circles, including Venezuelan authorities.
The case files contain intercepted messages between Alicante businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a close friend of Zapatero, and Venezuelan businessman Domingo Arnaldo Amaro Chacón. Martínez Martínez acted as the administrator of the company Análisis Relevante, through which, according to the investigation, substantial sums passed—including payments to Zapatero himself. The judge notes that the structure resembled a stable influence-peddling network, with the former prime minister serving as its key figure.
Investigators highlight that to participate in the oil deals, entrepreneurs were required to prepare a so-called Letter of Intent (LOI) and send it to Zapatero. In one message, Martínez Martínez directly requests preparation of this document, while another discusses the readiness of Chinese and Swiss companies to purchase tankers. The correspondence also mentions 'the Lady,' who investigators believe refers to then-Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, responsible for allocating oil shipments.
Judge Calama emphasizes that participants in the scheme often did not know which specific type of fuel would be sold and requested clarification only after sending a letter of intent. In one of the letters sent by a Venezuelan businessman, contact details for Zapatero and his mailing address appear, which, according to the court, demonstrates the scheme's operation and confirms his key role in the process.
The case file also mentions a letter from the Chinese company China International Cultural Technology Resources Group CO LTD addressed to the 'Office of President Zapatero'. The investigation believes such approaches indicate the former head of government's direct involvement in international deals involving oil, gold, shares, and currency. According to the court, clients of the structure paid substantial amounts for fictitious consultancy services, and the funds were then distributed among companies linked to Zapatero and Martínez Martínez.
The judge estimates possible illegal commissions received by Zapatero and his entourage at nearly 2 million euros. The case materials note that the network operated not only in Spain but also abroad, maintaining contacts with representatives from Venezuela, China, the UAE, and other countries to influence administrative decisions and facilitate major commercial operations.
Previously in Madrid, the Partido Popular had already demanded public explanations from Zapatero regarding a possible investigation into the Plus Ultra case, which increased pressure on the former prime minister and the Sánchez government. More on the politicians' reaction and the details of the PP's demands can be found in the article about the demands for clarification from Zapatero regarding the Plus Ultra case.
For reference: The Audiencia Nacional is one of Spain's key courts, handling cases of corruption and economic crimes. Plus Ultra is a Spanish airline at the center of an investigation into possible money laundering and influence peddling. In recent years, Spain has tightened controls over international financial operations, especially those related to government contracts and the export of strategic resources.
