Key facts
- Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is facing a new investigation.
- The probe is related to luxury jewelry and watches valued at €1.3 million discovered in his office.
- Investigators suspect tax fraud and smuggling due to a lack of proof of payment for customs duties.
- Zapatero is already under investigation for alleged influence peddling concerning the 2021 Plus Ultra airline bailout.
- He has been summoned to testify in court later this month.
Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is facing a new investigation after luxury jewelry and watches valued at €1.3 million were discovered in his office. The Spanish National Police are investigating potential tax fraud and smuggling offenses, as Zapatero has allegedly been unable to provide proof of payment for customs duties on the items, which include gold, sapphires, and emeralds. This new probe comes as Zapatero is already under scrutiny for alleged influence peddling related to the 2021 government bailout of Spanish airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2011, has denied any wrongdoing. He is scheduled to testify in court later this month regarding the jewelry discovery, marking a significant development as no former premier in recent Spanish history has faced such formal investigation.