Former Spanish PM Zapatero charged in Plus Ultra airline scandal
National Court investigates ex-president over money laundering in state rescue of carrier.
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Spain's National Court has charged former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero with money laundering in connection with the Plus Ultra airline rescue, according to El País.
The case centres on the 2020 state bailout of the airline, which received a €53 million state aid package during the pandemic. Judge José Luis Calama is leading the investigation into whether the rescue involved illicit capital flows.
PP opposition spokesman Miguel Tellado called the charge "extreme gravity" and demanded government explanations. "The architects of the scheme are beginning to fall," Tellado said.
Plus Ultra later collapsed despite the rescue, raising questions about how the funds were deployed. The case marks a significant moment for Spain's former socialist leader and reflects ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-era state interventions.