Bolivian Cement Firm Soboce Rejects Supreme Court Ruling Over Zapatero Influence Case

The Sociedad Boliviana de Cemento (Soboce), part of Peru's Gloria group, issued a statement rejecting Supreme Court auto 1190/2026 that upheld a prior decision ordering it to pay the state-owned cement firm Fancesa more than 744 million bolivianos. Soboce argued the ruling disregards a constitutional protection previously granted and constitutes an "unjust economic damage" in a context of "intimidation" in Chuquisaca and nationally.

The dispute traces back to the so‑called “Zapatero case”, where Spain’s former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is alleged to have used his influence during a 2025 visit to Bolivia to benefit the Peruvian conglomerate in the legal conflict with Fancesa. Spanish police investigations claim Zapatero received 200 000 euros for those services. Following the scandal, Soboce said it will pursue all available legal and constitutional avenues to contest the decision and highlighted a longstanding state debt related to the expropriation of its shares in Fancesa.