Zapatero accused of influence‑peddling for Peru’s Grupo Gloria in Bolivia cement dispute

Spain’s former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under investigation by the police’s economic‑crime unit (UDEF) for receiving about €200,000 – and, through the consultancy Kreab, up to €1.5 million – in exchange for mediating between the Peruvian conglomerate Grupo Gloria and Bolivian authorities. The alleged aim was to influence the outcome of a competition‑law case between Soboce, owned by Grupo Gloria, and the state‑owned cement maker Fancesa, involving a claim of roughly 744 million bolivianos.

Zapatero is reported to have arranged meetings with Bolivian president Luis Arce and to have discussed the case with his secretary Gertrudis Alcázar, as revealed in intercepted WhatsApp messages. A criminal complaint filed by lawyer Cristian Mina names Zapatero, former Bolivian president Arce and ten other individuals for alleged influence‑peddling and prevarication. Bolivian deputies have approved a request for Spain to provide reports on the investigation, and a Spanish judge has offered the tax agency the right to intervene over seized jewelry allegedly linked to the former premier.

Separate reports indicate Zapatero also coordinated discreet meetings with Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, taking steps such as changing flights to avoid being on the same plane as Junts spokesperson Miriam Nogueras. The scandal links political, judicial and corporate actors across Spain, Bolivia and Peru, and has prompted parliamentary, judicial and investigative actions in both countries.