José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

After leaving office, Zapatero became a highly active mediator in Venezuela. Part of the Venezuelan opposition accused him of legitimising Nicolás Maduro and too often repeating the government's arguments, while he retained privileged access to Chavista leaders.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Zapatero participated as an observer or political interlocutor around Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, whose official results declaring Maduro the winner were disputed by the opposition and several governments. His refusal to break with the authorities prompted further criticism.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Political responsibility

Public allegations claimed that Zapatero had reportedly had contacts concerning illegal funding of the PSOE or Socialist International and held interests in a gold mine in Venezuela.

Attribution

Accused

The Audiencia Nacional opened an investigation into Zapatero concerning the €53 million public loan granted to Plus Ultra in 2021. The judge examined the possibility that the former prime minister had participated in or led an influence-peddling network benefiting the airline and ordered his office searched during the investigation.

Attribution

Accused

A separate part of the Plus Ultra case examined the origin and tax treatment of jewellery found in a safe at Zapatero's office, valued at approximately €1.3 million. The judge added suspicions of tax offences and smuggling, and the tax agency joined the proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

Two former Plus Ultra executives acknowledged before the judge the existence of a payment or claim corresponding to approximately 1% of the public aid, or around €530,000, associated with the "Zapatero group". However, they did not describe what specific interventions the former prime minister had personally carried out in return.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Judge José Luis Calama rejected Zapatero's request to annul the Plus Ultra investigation on the grounds of alleged violations of his rights, particularly concerning the use of a lawyer's communications. The order on this procedural application was not subject to appeal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

Zapatero supported reform of Catalonia's Statute after promising to respect the text produced by the Catalan Parliament, subject to constitutional compliance. The text was negotiated, adopted and approved by referendum before the Constitutional Court invalidated or reinterpreted several provisions in 2010.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zapatero was criticised for long minimising the risk of an economic crisis before the property market collapsed and unemployment rose rapidly. In May 2010, under pressure from markets and the European Union, he announced public-sector pay cuts, a pension freeze and other austerity measures at odds with his social programme.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following ETA's declared ceasefire in 2006, Zapatero authorised the opening of dialogue aimed at ending violence. The process provoked fierce opposition from the People's Party and victims' associations. ETA's bombing at Barajas airport in December 2006 killed two people and led the government to suspend dialogue.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After a prolonged hunger strike by Iñaki de Juana Chaos, an ETA member convicted of terrorist crimes, the government allowed him to continue serving his sentence under supervision in hospital and subsequently at home. The right and victims' associations denounced the decision as a concession to ETA.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The government adopted the Historical Memory Law, recognising victims of the Civil War and Franco dictatorship and facilitating the removal of certain symbols. The PP accused it of reopening historical divisions, while victims' associations considered the law insufficient, particularly regarding annulment of Franco-era convictions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Zapatero's government implemented a large-scale regularisation programme enabling hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers to apply for legal status. Several European governments criticised the measure, fearing it could attract new migration flows into the Schengen Area.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Under Zapatero, Spain became one of the first countries to fully open marriage and adoption to same-sex couples. The Catholic Church and conservative opposition mobilised strongly against the reform.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Shortly after taking office, Zapatero ordered the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq, in accordance with his election pledge. The decision was welcomed by part of Spanish public opinion but criticised in Washington and by allies who saw it as a hasty withdrawal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility