Jose Luis Zapatero

As of July 2026, former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (2004–2011) is the subject of ongoing judicial investigations. In May 2026, Spain’s National Court charged Zapatero with money laundering, influence peddling, membership in a criminal organization, and document forgery. The investigation concerns an alleged "stable and hierarchical" scheme to exert influence over public bodies for private financial gain, specifically linked to a 2021 government bailout of the airline Plus Ultra. Investigators allege he and his circle received €1.95 million in irregular payments, including funds routed through shell companies and offshore entities in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, police searches of his office in 2026 uncovered jewelry and luxury watches valued at €1.3 million. Because he has not justified the origin or tax status of these items, he is being investigated for separate offenses of tax fraud and smuggling. Furthermore, a 2026 police report indicates he allegedly received €200,000 from the Peruvian company Grupo Gloria in 2024 and 2025 to influence the Bolivian government regarding legal disputes. Zapatero has publicly denied all wrongdoing, asserting that his public and private activities have been legal and that payments were for legitimate consulting work. He maintains that he has never owned a company, either directly or through third parties.