Spain's former PM Zapatero appears in court, first ex-PM charged under democracy
Spain's former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero gave evidence before the National Court on Wednesday in a corruption probe. The judge ruled Zapatero is not a flight risk, though the investigation continues. It marks the first time in Spain's democratic era that a former prime minister has faced formal charges.
Former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero gave evidence at the National Court as part of a years-long corruption investigation. The judge ruled that Zapatero poses no flight risk and that no travel ban is needed. Zapatero, for his part, defended his honesty in his statement, saying he had "never been involved in any crime".
The file is based on allegations regarding procurement procedures during his term in office. According to prosecutors, gaps in documentation and opaque payment routes were identified in certain decisions. Zapatero and his lawyers reject the accusations, stressing that the testimony is part of a technical bureaucratic process.
The case has had a large echo in Spain: no former prime minister has formally faced criminal proceedings since the transition to democracy. The Socialist Party (PSOE) has issued statements personally supporting Zapatero, while the opposition says the investigation must proceed free of political influence. Further testimony is expected at later stages.
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