LATEST: 50% of the €200,000 in advance, €10,000/day for per diems and expenses
World News Update:
Global attention remains focused on this evolving story as officials and analysts assess the broader implications.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero charged 200,000 euros for, according to the Police, influencing the Bolivian State and avoiding a million-dollar sentence for Soboce, a cement company. After multiple efforts by ZP with the country’s highest echelons, Justice reversed course and paralyzed the decision for the cement company to pay 107 million dollars (almost 95 million euros) to a rival company. On May 13, 2024, the former president of the Government signed a “consulting” contract with the company Focus Social Research SAC, which, according to the Economic and Financial Crime Unit (UDEF), was used as an “instrumental” company to channel that collection of 200,000 euros and camouflage the real reason for it. Zapatero did not carry out any work as an advisor for Focus Social, as highlighted by the UDEF in a report, already sent to the National Court. And he did meet on September 15, 2024 with the then Bolivian president, Luis Arce, in favor of Soboce’s interests. EL ESPAÑOL has had access to the contract signed by the former president of the Spanish Government, which is part of the summary of the so-called Plus Ultra case, in which Zapatero is being investigated for four alleged crimes (against the public treasury, influence peddling, money laundering and smuggling). As agreed, ZP collected 100,000 euros – 50% of the total – in advance. The rest, in two other payments; of 50,000 euros each. In fact, Zapatero’s secretary, the also investigated Gertrudis Alcázar, sent the first invoice to Ana María Ospina — director of Corporate Affairs and Institutional Relations of the group of which Soboce is a part — on the same day the contract was signed. The invoice, in addition, is dated May 10, 2024, three days before the agreement was signed. In addition to the hefty fees, the contract includes, as a provision of funds, a daily allowance of 10,000 euros, plus travel expenses. “Business trips,” it is specified. During a visit to Bolivia, Zapatero met the same day with the leftist Arce in the presidential palace and with the Minister of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro. He also arranged a meeting with the then head of Justice, César Siles, in which Francisco Shwortshik, CEO of Soboce, was present. But the efforts in favor of the cement company, as described by the UDEF, did not stop there. May 6, 2025, “at the direction of Zapatero,” Alcázar asked Fabiola Salazar, Arce’s chief of staff, to contact the attorney general of the State of Bolivia. This position is a kind of head of the country’s State Attorney’s Office. At that time, Ricardo Condori held that position. “Good morning, Fabiola. President Zapatero told me that you should send me the attorney’s contact and also notify me when the president of Bolivia has spoken with the attorney, so that President Zapatero can call this man in turn. I am waiting for the phone number and your instructions,” he told her by email. That same day, after a conversation between ZP and Arce, contacts with Condori began. According to the UDEF, it was the then Bolivian Minister of Justice, César Adalid Siles Bazán, who telephoned the attorney general. This was communicated via email by Gertrudis Alcázar to Fabiola Salazar (Arce’s chief of staff). Less than three weeks later, the court case took a turn and the Constitutional Chamber of La Paz issued a resolution that temporarily annulled the sentence that forced the cement company to pay the 107 million dollars. Fifteen days after that ruling, Zapatero collected the last agreed invoice, 50,000 euros. “Instrumental society” UDEF points out that, “according to the conversations observed, the services provided by Zapatero, in exchange for the aforementioned 200,000 euros, are not related to Focus Social Research SAC.” This company’s corporate purpose is marketing and corporate communication. “It would have been used as an intermediary company,” the agents conclude. “There is no reference to management or advice given in favor of this company,” they add. The National Police concludes that these payments to Zapatero were due exclusively to his efforts in favor of Soboce. “The people behind them would be part of the business conglomerate of Peruvian origin called Grupo Gloria,” the UDEF agents suspect. “The intended objective,” they point out, far from the supposed advisory work to Focus Social Research, was none other than “trying to mediate or influence in favor of this business group in several million-dollar litigation.”
Global Impact:
This event is already generating discussion among political analysts and international organizations worldwide.
International media coverage is expected to intensify as more updates become available from official sources.
Our editorial team will continue tracking this story as new reports become available.
Source: This article was originally published by El Español – Home and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.