Spain probes ex-PM Zapatero over Venezuela money laundering scheme
Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The probe centres on an alleged money laundering scheme tied to Venezuela’s regime and the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE). Authorities view him as a central figure in the case. The investigation runs alongside the Plus Ultra case, which involves a €53 million state bailout for a struggling airline with Venezuelan shareholders. Prosecutors suspect Zapatero of facilitating illegal financing for the PSOE via Maduro’s government.
Zapatero’s name emerged through his close associate, Julio Martínez Martínez. Martínez received payments from Plus Ultra and from Zapatero’s own firm, Análisis Relevante SL. The former prime minister previously testified that he earned €600,000 from the company for consultancy work.
The case involves shell companies and frontmen across multiple countries. Investigators believe Zapatero may have collected illicit commissions for acting as an intermediary. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Civil Guard’s UCO unit are jointly handling the inquiry.
Potential charges include money laundering, with penalties ranging from six months to nine years in prison. Membership of a criminal organisation could carry an additional one to eight years if proven. Further charges may follow as the investigation unfolds. Prosecutors are now examining Zapatero’s business dealings and hidden assets linked to the alleged scheme. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether additional charges are filed. The case remains ongoing, with authorities pursuing leads in Spain and abroad.
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