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Judge authorizes UDEF to probe accounts of former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and associates
Audiencia Nacional judge José Luis Calama has authorized the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) to investigate roughly 60 bank accounts belonging to former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his daughters Alba and Laura, his secretary María Gertrudis Alcázar and his associate Julio Martínez. The probe covers accounts at more than ten banking entities from 1 January 2020 onward and seeks evidence of a structured influence‑peddling network linked to the Plus Ultra airline rescue. UDEF has identified Plus Ultra, Inteligencia Prospectiva and Softgestor, among others, as possible concealed financing sources, and has traced payments of about €1.2 million from Plus Ultra to the shell firm Caletón Consultores, later routed to companies controlled by Martínez. The investigation also notes that Zapatero allegedly received over €2.7 million in consultancy‑type fees and that the network involves at least 27 companies showing unitary control. In parallel, the judge has repeatedly rejected requests from Zapatero, his wife Sonsoles Espinosa and his daughters to suspend the ongoing tax inspection by the Agencia Tributaria, allowing the fiscal probe to continue. The judge also ordered a review of certain procedural rulings but kept the case open. Additionally, Alcázar’s purchase of a €132,055 house without a mortgage, financed by periodic transfers between 2021 and 2023, has been highlighted as part of the financial scrutiny.
Entities
Alba Rodríguez · Alba Rodríguez Espinosa · Audiencia Nacional · Gertrudis Alcázar · José Luis Calama · José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero · Judge José Luis Calama · Julio Martínez Martínez · Laura Rodríguez · Laura Rodríguez Espinosa · María Gertrudis Alcázar · Plus Ultra
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 10 SOURCES] The investigation is part of the Plus Ultra case concerning a €53 million state aid to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic. www.ondacero.es · www.upday.com · www.diaridetarragona.com · www.cope.es · observador.pt
- [● 9 SOURCES] Banks were instructed not to contact their branch offices directly for the requested information. www.ondacero.es · www.upday.com · www.diaridetarragona.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Secretary Gertrudis Alcázar purchased a property in Velilla de San Antonio for €132,055 without a mortgage, paying via periodic transfers between 2021 and 2023. www.farodevigo.es · www.upday.com · www.diaridetarragona.com · www.ondacero.es · www.elliberal.cat
- [● 9 SOURCES] UDEF may also investigate accounts linked to businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, an associate of Zapatero. www.ondacero.es · www.upday.com · www.cope.es · www.lanzadigital.com
- [● 13 SOURCES] Judge José Luis Calama authorized the UDEF to investigate the bank accounts of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his daughters, and his secretary Gertrudis Alcázar. www.cope.es · www.ondacero.es · www.farodevigo.es · www.upday.com · www.diaridetarragona.com · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The judge ordered banks to provide detailed transaction data from 1 January 2020 for dozens of accounts. www.cope.es · www.ondacero.es · www.diaridetarragona.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Judge Calama described Zapatero as the alleged leader of an influence‑peddling network. www.ondacero.es · www.upday.com · www.diaridetarragona.com · observador.pt
- [● 4 SOURCES] The investigation is part of the Plus Ultra case concerning €53 million state aid granted to the airline during the pandemic. www.diaridetarragona.com · www.cope.es · observador.pt · theobjective.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] UDEF describes an organized influence‑peddling network led by Zapatero that used simulated consultancy contracts to channel funds. www.diaridetarragona.com · www.cope.es · theobjective.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] UDEF aims to cross the new bank transaction data with earlier financial information indicating transfers of hundreds of thousands of euros to Zapatero and his daughters. www.diaridetarragona.com · www.cope.es
- [● 9 SOURCES] Judge José Luis Calama authorized UDEF to investigate about 60 bank accounts linked to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his daughters, his secretary Gertrudis Alcázar, his spouse, and associate Julio Mar www.diaridetarragona.com · observador.pt · www.elliberal.cat · www.cope.es · www.ondacero.es · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Judge José Luis Calama authorized the UDEF to investigate bank accounts of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his daughters Alba and Laura Rodríguez, and his secretary Gertrudis Alcázar. www.diaridetarragona.com · www.cope.es · www.ondacero.es