Spanish Court Places Former Prime Minister Under Investigation

A Spanish court placed former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero under investigation for alleged influence peddling and related crimes, the court said on Tuesday. Zapatero, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2011, has been summoned to testify on 2 June, Spain's top criminal court said in a statement.

The case centers on the bailout of Venezuela-linked airline Plus Ultra during the COVID-19 pandemic, years after Zapatero had left office.

Background on the Airline Rescue The airline received a €53 million public loan in March 2021 from a government fund set up to support strategic companies hit by the crisis. The rescue of Plus Ultra sparked controversy in Spain, with opposition parties questioning the airline's financial situation and its links to Venezuela.

The conservative People's Party has demanded an urgent explanation from the government after details of the Zapatero case emerged. In a statement, the secretary general of the opposition party said the government has to give explanations now. The news comes amid other ongoing investigations involving government officials and public contracts awarded during the pandemic.