Spain's former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero testified as a suspect before Judge José Luis Calama of the Audiencia Nacional on June 17, 2026. He is the first former head of the Spanish Executive to appear before a magistrate as a suspect in Spain’s democratic era. Zapatero is under investigation for influence peddling, money laundering, criminal organization, tax fraud, and smuggling. The investigation centers on a €53 million public bailout granted to the airline Plus Ultra by the Spanish government through SEPI during the pandemic. Plus Ultra is linked to Venezuela. Investigators suspect that part of the bailout was diverted through a network of companies and consultancy payments. New charges emerged after luxury jewelry valued at €1.32 million was found hidden in Zapatero’s private office during a raid. According to mercopress, Zapatero is also under investigation for documentary falsification. According to occrp.org, Zapatero denied allegations that he orchestrated an influence-peddling scheme tied to the Plus Ultra bailout and claimed payments flagged by investigators were legitimate consulting fees and layout work for his daughters' design agency. According to mercopress, Zapatero will answer questions from the judge and his lawyer, but not from the Anti-Corruption prosecutor.