A Spanish High Court judge has launched an additional investigation into former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero following the discovery of jewelry during a search of his office, court officials announced Friday.
The former leader, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2011, continues to hold significant influence within the main ruling Socialist Party. The corruption allegations, which he has rejected, have intensified pressure on the current government amid a string of corruption scandals.
Judge Jose Luis Calama stated that the jewelry pieces confiscated during the May 19 search, with a preliminary estimated value of approximately €1.3 million ($1.5 million), currently have no documented evidence of their source.
The judge explained that owning valuable assets without proper fiscal documentation could suggest potential tax evasion or smuggling violations, noting the lack of customs paperwork or proof that import taxes were satisfied.
The former prime minister’s legal representative did not respond immediately to requests for comment. However, his spokesperson, Luis Arroyo, posted on X earlier Friday that the former leader would discuss the jewelry issue with the judge.
The former prime minister is scheduled to provide testimony on June 17 and June 18 regarding the corruption case, which focuses on an alleged influence-peddling and money-laundering operation that he supposedly headed.
Authorities suspect the operation benefited from lobbying government officials for outside parties, particularly Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which obtained government financial assistance in 2021.
