Spain's Sánchez Sees 'No Reason' to Withdraw Support for Ex-Premier Zapatero Amid Graft Probe

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday there was "no reason" to withdraw support for his predecessor José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is under investigation for corruption, following the publication of new details about the case. "I think there is no sufficient reason, there is no reason to change that position," Sánchez told a Rome news conference after a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The Socialist premier, in office since 2018, reiterated his "full cooperation with the judiciary" and respect for the presumption of innocence.

Zapatero, who governed from 2004 to 2011, has been summoned to testify next month in connection with crimes allegedly committed during the bailout of small airline Plus Ultra in 2021. The case centers on whether the former Socialist premier used his political influence to help the carrier secure a €53 million bailout in 2021 and whether he and his family financially benefited from it. The investigating judge suspects Zapatero may have been part of an elaborate network involving shell companies and behind-the-scenes lobbying designed to push favorable decisions through the Socialist government's channels. Authorities are also looking into possible commissions and financial flows connected to the case.

Zapatero, a totem of the Spanish left and ally of Sánchez, was placed under official investigation last week for influence peddling and other crimes. He has consistently denied wrongdoing or having ever received payments from Plus Ultra. Among details cited in the investigation is the discovery during a search of a safe belonging to Zapatero of numerous luxury watches and jewelry of undetermined value. Associates of the former prime minister said the items were linked to family inheritances. While other Spanish prime ministers have been called to testify in corruption cases, this is the first time in Spain's modern history that a former premier has been placed under formal investigation.

The case has piled more pressure on Sánchez, already weakened by corruption investigations affecting relatives and former top political allies as well as a string of heavy regional electoral defeats. Earlier on Wednesday, police entered the Madrid headquarters of Sánchez's Socialist party to demand documents as part of a probe into former party member Leire Díez. She is accused by Spain's top criminal court, the National Audience, of participating in what it described as a network aimed at undermining judicial proceedings involving the party or the government.

Sánchez said the Socialist Party "respects the judiciary" and "cooperates" with investigations, adding that it had previously cut ties with Díez after concerns emerged. He also dismissed opposition calls for early elections, arguing that Spain required "stability" and pointed to what he described as social and economic progress under his administration. "Obviously, if there are irregular behaviours, new ones I mean, we will act with the same firmness as before," he said, referring to previous internal disciplinary actions within his party.

For now, Sánchez is standing by his predecessor and mentor. Zapatero is standing by his denial. And the judge is standing by a safe full of watches. The Plus Ultra case is not going away, and neither is the pressure on Spain's embattled prime minister. Whether Sánchez's "no reason" to withdraw support holds up in the months ahead is another question entirely.