ALERT: Zapatero’s two daughters prosecuted in investigation targeting ex-Prime Minister
Latest Developments:
The following report highlights an important international development currently attracting worldwide attention.
The two daughters of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero were indicted this Thursday in the investigation targeting the former Spanish Prime Minister for influence peddling. Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, the two daughters of the former Prime Minister, in power from 2004 to 2011, will thus be able to “exercise their right to defense”, specifies the National Audience, the court specializing in Spain in the most sensitive cases. This announcement comes the day after the hearing of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero before Judge Calama. The former socialist leader, a historic and well-respected figure on the Spanish left, has denied the accusations against him. Investigators accuse him of being “the alleged head of a stable and hierarchical structure” of influence peddling whose objective would have been to collect bribes, via “multiple commercial companies apparently used to channel these payments”. However, according to the National Audience, his two daughters “are directors” of one of these companies, called “Whathefav”. Her “activity appears, according to the evidence, to be linked to the network under investigation, which in itself justifies their summons as defendants”. The investigation targeting Zapatero is part of the so-called “Plus Ultra” affair, which examines whether the former socialist leader favored the public rescue of 53 million euros of this small airline during the Covid-19 pandemic. Justice suspects him of having done it in exchange for money and using his still very strong influence even though he had not been in power for ten years. Jewelry that intrigues Among the highlights of this investigation is also the discovery of numerous jewelry and luxury watches in a safe in his office, the value of which was estimated at 1.3 million euros, which also led to him being prosecuted for tax fraud and alleged smuggling. On Wednesday, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero refused to explain the origin of these jewels to Judge Calama, according to judicial sources. According to the Spanish press quoting relatives, these jewels were part of the protocol presents exchanged between official representatives and were given by the former king of Saudi Arabia to the wife of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, during his mandate at the head of the Spanish government (2004-2011).
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Source: This article was originally published by 20Minutes – Actu Monde and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.