Spain opens new probe into ex-PM Zapatero over jewelry found in office

MADRID: A Spanish ‌High Court judge investigating former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for suspected corruption has opened a separate probe over jewelry found during a search of his office, the court said on Friday.
Zapatero, prime minister from 2004 to 2011, remains a leading figure in the main ruling Socialist Party and the graft allegations — ‌which he ‌has denied — have added to ‌pressure ⁠on the government following ⁠a series of corruption scandals.
Investigating judge Jose Luis Calama said the jewelry items seized during the May 19 search, provisionally valued at about €1.3 million ($1.5 million), currently lack documented proof of origin.
He said ⁠the possession of high-value assets ‌without clear fiscal ‌traceability could indicate possible tax evasion or smuggling offenses, ‌citing the absence of customs ‌documents or evidence that import duties had been paid.
Zapatero’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier on Friday, ‌his spokesperson, Luis Arroyo, said in a post on X that ⁠Zapatero ⁠would address the jewelry matter before the judge.
Zapatero is due to testify on June 17 and June 18 in the corruption case, which centers on an influence-peddling and money-laundering network that he allegedly led.
The network is suspected of having profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties — mainly Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which received a state bailout in 2021.