Madrid (Spain), 17 June (LaPresse) – There is great anticipation in Spain ahead of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s questioning. Today, the Socialist politician will become the country’s first former prime minister to give evidence as a person under investigation. Zapatero will have to answer both the allegations levelled against him regarding the bailout of the airline Plus Ultra during the Covid-19 pandemic and the discovery of jewellery with an estimated value of 1.3 million euros during a search of his office on 19 May. The investigating judge at the National Court, José Luis Calama, had initially scheduled the questioning for 2 June but subsequently accepted Zapatero’s request to postpone the date, to give the former prime minister more time to prepare his defence. Calama, who on 12 June opened a separate file on the jewellery – distinct from the main case concerning the Plus Ultra bailout – rejected, however, the request to postpone the questioning relating to the discovery of the precious stones in the Socialist’s office on Calle Ferraz. The former Prime Minister, a key figure within Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE, had in recent days sent a video message to the media in which he stated that he had conducted all his activities, both public and private, “in strict compliance with the law”. “I will exercise my right to a defence with total firmness and conviction,” he had declared.
Spain: Zapatero to appear before a judge to answer questions on the Plus Ultra bailout and jewellery
Madrid (Spain), 17 June (LaPresse) – There is great anticipation in Spain ahead of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s questioning. Today, the Socialist politician will become the country’s first former prime minister to give evidence as a person under investigation. Zapatero will have to answer both the allegations levelled against him regarding the bailout of the airline Plus Ultra during the Covid-19 pandemic and the discovery of jewellery with an estimated value of 1.3 million euros during a search of his office on 19 May. The investigating judge at the National Court, José Luis Calama, had initially scheduled the questioning for 2 June but subsequently accepted Zapatero’s request to postpone the date, to give the former prime minister more time to prepare his defence. Calama, who on 12 June opened a separate file on the jewellery – distinct from the main case concerning the Plus Ultra bailout – rejected, however, the request to postpone the questioning relating to the discovery of the precious stones in the Socialist’s office on Calle Ferraz. The former Prime Minister, a key figure within Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE, had in recent days sent a video message to the media in which he stated that he had conducted all his activities, both public and private, “in strict compliance with the law”. “I will exercise my right to a defence with total firmness and conviction,” he had declared.
