Spain's tax agency joins prosecution of former PM Zapatero over €1.3m jewellery stash found in his office safe
The State Attorney's Office, acting for the Tax Agency, has joined the criminal case against José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, deepening the former prime minister's legal troubles over 80 pieces of high-end jewellery seized from his Madrid office.
The jewellery find
On 19 May 2026, police searching the Madrid office of former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero discovered a safe containing around 80 pieces of jewellery. The items were later appraised by Ansorena jewellers at €1,323,915, with the most expensive piece valued at €278,000 and the cheapest at €25. The find triggered a separate investigation within the broader Plus Ultra case, which already involved allegations of influence peddling and money laundering.
Zapatero's silence
Zapatero appeared before investigating judge José Luis Calama on 17 June but declined to answer questions about the jewellery. He requested between seven and ten days to provide explanations, yet more than two weeks later no clarification has been offered. His defence has suggested the items were gifts received during his time in office, passed through protocol channels and stored without knowledge of their true value. An earlier claim by his secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, that the jewellery came from an inheritance of Zapatero's wife, Sonsoles Espinosa, was later abandoned.
It's all very confusing, it shows the mess that not only Zapatero but also Sánchez is in.
Government in a bind
The government of Pedro Sánchez has publicly defended Zapatero's presumption of innocence, with Sánchez initially dismissing the matter by saying all presidents receive gifts and that "the Spain of 2007 is not the Spain of 2026." However, a Code of Good Governance approved by Zapatero himself in 2005 already prohibited such gifts. Privately, PSOE figures complain they have "no weapons" to fight the political fallout, and Sánchez's own public defence has weakened as the silence drags on.
- Police find jewellery in Zapatero's office safe during a search.
- Zapatero testifies but refuses to explain the jewellery's origin, requests 7–10 days.
- State Attorney's Office joins the case as plaintiff on behalf of the Tax Agency.
Legal escalation
Judge Calama offered the Tax Agency the chance to join the case as a potential injured party, citing a "directly connected patrimonial loss to state revenues." On 2 July, the State Attorney's Office confirmed it would act on behalf of the tax authority, investigating possible tax fraud and smuggling. The move places the government's legal arm in direct opposition to the former prime minister it has been defending, a contradiction that has unsettled Moncloa and the Socialist Party.
