Zapatero stays in dialogue with Sánchez amid Plus Ultra jewelry probe

Spanish authorities continue to assert former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s innocence in the Plus Ultra fiscal investigation. Government sources say regular high‑level contact persists between Zapatero, President Pedro Sánchez and ministers such as Félix Bolaños, despite the probe.

Zapatero’s lawyer has asked the tax agency to suspend the investigation, calling it unilateral and capricious, and argues the facts overlap with cases already before the National Court. The controversy centers on jewellery worth about €1.3 million found in Zapatero’s professional office, which sources claim originated from a 2007 visit by Saudi King Abdulaziz bin Abdulaziz. Neither Zapatero nor his family have publicly explained the items, prompting some unease within the PSOE, though the government maintains that dialogue can continue unabated.