Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said 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 this week about the case.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintained his support Wednesday for his predecessor José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, following the release of new details of the investigation into the ex-leader for influence peddling.
The affair is part of a growing list of graft cases that have raised questions about the viability of Sánchez’s minority Socialist government and contributed to a string of heavy regional election defeats.
“I think there is no sufficient reason, there is no reason to change that position,” Sánchez told a news conference in Rome after a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
Sánchez, who came to power in 2018 after using a vote of no-confidence to topple the corruption-mired conservative government, reiterated his respect for the presumption of innocence.
Zapatero, who governed from 2004 to 2011, was placed under official investigation last week for influence peddling and other crimes allegedly committed during the bailout of small airline Plus Ultra in 2021.
READ MORE: Spain’s former PM under investigation for influence peddling
He has been summoned to testify in court next month.
The case centres on whether Zapatero used his political influence to help airline Plus Ultra secure a €53-million ($58-billion) 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 favourable 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, has consistently denied wrongdoing or having ever received payments from Plus Ultra.
Authorities recently released new details of the investigation, including the discovery of luxury watches and jewellery of undetermined value in a safe belonging to Zapatero.
Associates of the former Socialist premier 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.
‘Smear campaign’
Sánchez, a canny politician famous for coming out on top in dire situations, again rejected opposition calls to step down and call early elections over the mounting corruption scandals.
He argued Spain required “stability”, and pointed to what he described as social and economic progress under his administration.
The next general election is due in 2027.
The head of the opposition conservative Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, on Wednesday repeated his call for snap polls, saying Sánchez’s government “stinks” of corruption.
Sánchez’s brother, David, is scheduled to stand trial for influence peddling.
His wife, Begoña Gómez, is under investigation in a separate corruption case.
Sánchez has dismissed the cases against his family members as baseless and part of a right-wing “smear campaign”.
‘Act with firmness’
His former right-hand man, ex-transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, is awaiting a verdict in his own corruption trial which ended earlier this month.
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.
READ ALSO: Police enter Spain’s ruling party HQ as corruption probe deepens
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 Diez after concerns emerged.
“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.
