The Unidad de Delincuencia Económica y Fiscal (UDEF), a Spanish National Police unit specializing in economic and financial crime, has delivered a new report to the judge overseeing the “caso Plus Ultra”. It alleges that former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero received €200,000 for using his influence to benefit a Peruvian business group in dealings with the Bolivian government. The document, reviewed by EL PAÍS, says investigators believe a sequence of events points to a pattern of illicit mediation and influence, allegedly orchestrated to advance the interests of Grupo Gloria.
UDEF agents allege that the arrangement was structured through a simulated contract with an intermediary company, raising suspicions about the transaction’s legitimacy. The report also points to what investigators describe as signs of a criminal organization, identifying Zapatero as its alleged leader. They say he used his international profile and network to exert unlawful influence on behalf of various clients. These are investigative allegations in an ongoing judicial proceeding, not established findings of guilt.
The case has drawn attention because it involves a former head of government and alleged cross-border activity. The police findings are now before the judiciary, which will assess their significance and the evidence supporting them. The inquiry is part of the broader Plus Ultra proceedings overseen by investigating judge José Luis Calama at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional. The investigation centers on the airline’s €53 million state rescue, granted through the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI) in March 2021. It also includes inquiries into alleged money laundering and a separate alleged influence-trafficking network.
Other financial arrangements examined in the broader Plus Ultra inquiry involve different entities and amounts. El Confidencial has reported that Idella Consulenza contracted with the airline on 19 January 2021, with a fee set at 1% of the proposed €53 million rescue, equivalent to €530,000. The arrangement included a plan to establish a wholly owned Dubai subsidiary called Landside. Separately, elDiario.es has reported payments exceeding €200,000 from Julio Martínez’s company relevant analysis to a company belonging to Zapatero’s daughters. These figures concern distinct arrangements and should not be treated as evidence of the Bolivia-related payment described in the UDEF report.
The UDEF report focuses on the alleged financial transaction and the structure of the supposed criminal network. It does not detail the specific outcomes of the alleged influence or its direct impact on Bolivian government decisions. Investigators say an intermediary company was used to disguise the payment’s true nature. The broader inquiry has also examined alleged influence activity around the airline. Servimedia reported that the judge planned a “very exhaustive” investigation into a company associated with Zapatero’s daughters.
Spain has seen a series of high-profile investigations involving political figures and alleged misuse of influence, reflecting broader concerns about transparency and accountability in public life. Cultural figures have also highlighted social challenges in Spain. Aitana Sánchez-Gijón addressed youth prospects during the return of “La malquerida” to Madrid, a topic explored in this recent report on social debate and generational issues.
As the judicial process continues, the court will assess the police allegations and the evidence concerning the alleged payment and intermediary contract, as well as the wider network. The Plus Ultra investigation also examines whether funds connected to the airline’s state rescue were diverted, alongside separate allegations of influence trafficking. The claims against the individuals named remain allegations pending judicial determination.
