On Thursday, former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero broke a two-month public silence to deny any involvement in the 2021 state rescue of airline Plus Ultra, speaking on national television hours after his business associate placed him at the centre of the alleged influence-peddling scheme. Zapatero told TVE he “did not speak to anyone” in the government or the state holding company SEPI about the €53 million bailout, and dismissed the creation of an offshore company to channel payments as “an absolute invention.” The interview came as judicial investigators examine not only the rescue but also undeclared jewellery valued at over €1.3 million found in his office safe, and payments of nearly €1 million to his daughters from the consultancy at the heart of the probe.

The PSOE leadership and the Moncloa palace immediately closed ranks behind Zapatero, with party officials stating they “maintain support” and respect the presumption of innocence. Government spokesperson Pilar Alegría called for respect of his right to defend himself. However, Third Vice-President Sara Aagesen introduced a note of distance, telling Cadena SER that the leak of privileged information about the rescue’s imminent approval “should never have happened,” a remark interpreted in Madrid as a cautious rebuke of the former leader’s circle. Zapatero himself attributed the contradictory testimony of his friend and business partner Julio Martínez to a “defence strategy,” refusing to confront it directly, while insisting his daughters had performed legitimate work and were not used as front persons.

The conflicting accounts leave judicial investigators with two irreconcilable versions. According to court filings cited by Spanish media, Martínez stated that Zapatero “marked the steps to follow” and that he merely relayed instructions. Zapatero countered that his role was limited to facilitating a contact with Banco Santander, arguing that such introductions are routine for former officeholders. On the jewellery, he described the pieces as “personal courtesy gifts” from many years ago, declined to name the donor country, and said their valuation would be contested, while acknowledging that accepting them may have been an error. The case has added to political pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition, already facing separate judicial investigations involving his wife and brother, with the conservative opposition accusing the government of double standards on ethical conduct.

The Plus Ultra investigation originated from suspicions of money laundering linked to Venezuelan capital and has since expanded to encompass alleged illicit influence operations, offshore structures, and tax offences. Zapatero, who led Spain from 2004 to 2011, has promised to provide full documentation to the investigating judge, José Luis Calama, but has yet to do so. The PSOE has signalled it will await the judicial outcome, while opposition parties demand parliamentary scrutiny. The judge is expected to continue gathering evidence, with further declarations from Zapatero and other implicated individuals scheduled in the coming weeks.