Former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under investigation for alleged tax fraud and smuggling, following the discovery of a hundred pieces of jewelry valued at €1.3 million inside a safe located in his Madrid office. This case adds to a previous investigation against him for alleged influence peddling.
The case, overseen by Judge José Luis Calama of the National Court, emerged on May 19 after a police raid on the former leader’s offices. Among the valuable items, a diamond and emerald necklace from Zambia, valued at €278,000, stood out. According to authorities, Zapatero has been unable to prove the legal origin of the jewelry or the payment of associated tariffs and taxes.
Response and Court Summons
Zapatero’s team claims the jewelry comes from family inheritances and trips taken during his career, and that the total value of the pieces does not exceed €50,000—a statement that contradicts the judicial appraisals. In his upcoming court appearance, scheduled for next week, Zapatero will be required to address these inconsistencies and respond to questions related to a parallel case of alleged mediation in the allocation of €53 million to the airline Plus Ultra, a decision approved by the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez.
This groundbreaking development positions Zapatero as the first former Spanish president ever confronted with corruption allegations, placing significant pressure on Spain’s judicial framework and testing the public’s confidence in its institutions.
