Judge expands Zapatero probe to daughters, secretary

A Spanish judge has placed the daughters and former personal secretary of ex-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero under formal investigation, expanding a major corruption probe into a state airline bailout. The decision by Judge José Luis Calama of the National Court on Thursday, June 18, 2026, follows Zapatero's own testimony as a suspect earlier in the week.

The case centers on a 53 million euro state rescue granted in 2021 to the struggling airline Plus Ultra. Prosecutors allege the bailout was secured through influence peddling. Judge Calama, who declared Zapatero a suspect in May, has described the former prime minister as the leader of a "stable and hierarchical" structure that used opaque financial channels for illicit gain. The investigation has focused on a communications firm, Whathefav, run by Zapatero's daughters Alba and Laura Rodríguez, which is alleged to have channeled payments tied to the scheme. The judge's ruling estimates Zapatero and his associates received about 1.95 million euros, with roughly 423,779 euros directed to his daughters' company.

Zapatero testified before Judge Calama for more than three hours on Wednesday, June 17. According to legal...