The judge rejects withdrawing Zapatero's passport and he reiterates his innocence: "I will not disappoint you"

MadridJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero reiterates his innocence and denies before the judge José Luis Calama that he influenced in any way the rescue of Plus Ultra, the loan of 53 million euros that the airline company received from the Spanish government in March 2021. According to what ARA has been able to learn, this is what he said during his declaration at the National Court this Wednesday, which began shortly after nine in the morning and has made him the first former president of the Spanish government since the restoration of democracy to declare as an accused in a judicial investigation. He is accused of influence peddling, money laundering, tax offense, and smuggling. Zapatero said that he "never" had direct contact with Plus Ultra and denied asking any authority or official to facilitate the rescue. He specified that the only person he has dealt with is Julio Martínez Sola, the president of the airline, whom he did not know until 2024. However, his explanations have not convinced Judge Calama, who believes that Zapatero "has not managed to dispel" the indications of criminality against him and that they "derive from various and different sources of evidence".

After the statement, which lasted three hours and in which Zapatero only answered the questions of the judge and his lawyer, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the PP – which leads the popular accusations – have asked the judge to withdraw his passport and oblige him to appear in court every fifteen days. However, the magistrate has closed the door to this because he believes there is no "real and current" risk of flight and that accepting it would mean an "unjustified restriction" of the right to personal liberty and free movement. Hazte Oír, Vox, Iustitia Europa and Liberum had even requested that he be sent to prison. The order, of four pages, alleges that the "notoriety and visibility" of the former Spanish president make it difficult for him to be "untraceable" or to "discreetly evade" justice and recalls his "clear ties" to Spain and the "absence of any indication of evasive intent". It also highlights that the "relevant" evidence has already been seized and, therefore, there is no risk that he will destroy it: "The investigation does not depend on actions that he could obstruct", he emphasizes. However, the judge demands that he provide a telephone number and an email address that allow him to be located at any time.

jewels valued at 1.3 million euros that the Spanish police found in his officejewelry valued at 1.3 million euros that the Spanish police found in his office: he has not clarified where it comes from and has announced that he will give explanations in a week or ten days. In an appeal, his lawyer asks for "a little more time" to be able "to explain with precision and certainty" the origin of the jewelry and the date "when it came into his possession". In fact, the judge takes advantage of the order to recall that, for now, Zapatero has not proven where it came from "nor its corresponding tax and customs settlement".

In the investigation, the role of Zapatero's daughters is also in doubt, who have a communication company –What The Fav– which the UDEF believes had a role of "operational coordination" and "logistical and documentary support channel" for the alleged influence peddling scheme. Legal sources explain to ARA that, before the judge, Zapatero defended them by alleging that they had a company that worked doing layout jobs. Regarding Julio Martínez Martínez, his friend and also investigated in the case, he said that he gave him "professional assignments". In addition, he has assured that he has never had any company outside the State and has stated that he has nothing to do with a company in Dubai. In fact, he has presented a voluntary universal authorization to certify "the non-existence of companies, money, financial products or any assets" abroad: "I have absolutely nothing outside of Spain", he said in the statement.

A long-awaited statement

Zapatero arrived at the National High Court at 8:49 AM to testify before Judge José Luis Calama and a "stable and hierarchical structure" that aimed to obtain "economic benefits" through "intermediation" with public administrations. As the ruling recalls, the main evidence is the The judge considers that he "led" an "organized scheme of illicit exercise of influence" and a "stable and hierarchical structure" whose purpose was to obtain "economic benefits" through "intermediation" with public administrations. As the order recalls, the main evidence includes the messages found on Rodolfo Reyes' mobile phone, who was a counselor at Plus Ultra representing the main shareholder, which were provided by the United States; the content of the devices found in various searches last November; the "traceability of several transfers" between Zapatero's bank accounts related to "funds from" the airline's bailout, and the use of "multiple" commercial companies to "channel" the payments.