Lorraine Williamson
A Spanish judge has opened a separate investigation into former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over jewellery found during a search of his office, reportedly valued at around €1.3 million.
The new line of inquiry is linked to the wider Plus Ultra case, but focuses specifically on the origin and tax traceability of jewellery seized during a police search on May 19. Reuters reported that investigating judge José Luis Calama is examining possible tax and smuggling offences.
Zapatero denies wrongdoing. The investigation remains open, and no offence has been proven.
Jewellery found during office search
The jewellery was found during a search of Zapatero’s office in Madrid, carried out as part of the wider investigation into the Plus Ultra case.
Reuters reported that the items were provisionally valued at about €1.3 million. According to the same report, the judge said the jewellery lacked documentation proving its origin, customs declaration or payment of import duties.
Spanish media have reported that the jewellery was found in a safe during the search. RTVE previously reported that Zapatero’s secretary told investigators the items were “gifts from trips” and “inheritances” belonging to his wife.
The new investigation does not mean guilt has been established. It means the judge considers the origin and fiscal treatment of the items require further examination.
What the judge is looking at
The separate inquiry is reportedly examining whether the jewellery could be linked to possible tax evasion or smuggling offences.
RTVE said the origin of the jewellery is now key to determining whether any offence may have taken place, with experts noting that ownership, provenance, import records and tax treatment will all be relevant.
This is why documentation matters. Luxury items can raise legal questions if there is no clear evidence showing where they came from, how they entered the country and whether the relevant taxes or duties were paid.
The judge’s order, as reported by Reuters and Spanish outlets, points to the absence of supporting paperwork as the reason for opening a separate line of inquiry.
Part of a wider Plus Ultra investigation
The jewellery inquiry forms part of a broader case that has developed over several years around Plus Ultra, the Venezuelan-linked airline that received a state-backed rescue during the pandemic.
The case has expanded into allegations involving influence-peddling, money laundering and business connections linked to Venezuela and consultancy activity. El País described the wider investigation as “labyrinthine”, involving jewellery, Venezuela and a consultancy as Zapatero prepares to appear before the judge.
Zapatero, who led Spain’s Socialist government from 2004 to 2011, is expected to testify this week in the wider case.
Reuters reported that he is due to appear on June 17 and 18.
Why the valuation has drawn attention
The reported valuation of the jewellery has added political and public interest to the case.
RTVE and other Spanish media have reported that the items were valued far above earlier suggestions from Zapatero’s circle. El Diario said the jewellery report included pieces ranging from high-value necklaces to items with little or no value, with one necklace alone reportedly valued at €278,000. S
That does not prove wrongdoing. But it does explain why investigators are focusing on how the items were acquired, whether they were declared and whether their tax position can be justified.
The case is likely to attract more scrutiny in the coming days because of Zapatero’s scheduled court appearance.
Political pressure grows
The investigation comes at a difficult moment for Spain’s governing Socialist Party.
Although Zapatero is a former prime minister and no longer in government, the case has generated political pressure because of his long-standing role within the PSOE and his influence in Spanish politics.
El País reported that the case has added to a wider atmosphere of pressure around the government and the party, as several judicial and political issues converge in the same week.
The opposition is likely to use the investigation to intensify criticism of the government. The PSOE, meanwhile, will want to separate the current executive from a legal process involving a former leader.
What happens next?
The next key moment is expected to come when Zapatero appears before the judge.
He is expected to be questioned in the wider case, while the separate jewellery inquiry adds a new line of legal scrutiny. The central questions will be whether he can explain the origin of the items, whether the documentation exists and whether any tax or customs obligations were met.
For now, the case remains under investigation.
The strongest legal fact is also the most important one: a judge has opened a new inquiry, the jewellery has reportedly been valued at around €1.3 million, and Zapatero denies wrongdoing.
Everything else will depend on what investigators can prove.