Judge Rejects Zapatero Appeal Against Bank Account Investigation

A Spanish National Court judge has dismissed an appeal from former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero against an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Plus Ultra airline bailout during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the court. Judge José Luis Calama, who is overseeing the probe known as the Plus Ultra case, has authorized the National Police’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) to continue examining financial information linked to Zapatero, his daughters Alba and Laura, and his secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar.

The court rejected Zapatero's arguments that the investigation could violate his privacy rights and effective judicial protection, as well as his request to limit the scope of the inquiry and exclude certain communications. Calama ruled that the police inquiry remained within the boundaries set by the court and that the period covered by the financial investigation was proportionate.

The investigation is being conducted confidentially to protect the privacy of those involved and prevent irrelevant information from being included in the proceedings.