Spain’s former PM faces tax fraud inquiry as police find €1.3m of jewellery

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is facing a new inquiry into alleged tax fraud, following the discovery of more than €1.3 million worth of jewelry in his office safe. The find occurred during a search related to a separate investigation into alleged influence-peddling.

Zapatero, who led Spain's socialist governments from 2004 to 2011, is already under scrutiny for his role in the state bailout of the Spanish Plus Ultra airline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities are examining claims that he oversaw a "hierarchical structure of influence-peddling" aimed at securing economic benefits through intermediaries and lobbying public bodies.

The latest development adds to the legal pressures on the former premier. The jewelry, discovered in his office safe, has prompted questions about its origin and whether appropriate taxes were declared. This investigation into potential tax evasion and smuggling could have significant implications for Zapatero's public standing and ongoing legal battles.