Juan Rodríguez García-Lozano, father of former PM Zapatero, dies aged 100 in León
Juan Rodríguez García-Lozano, a lawyer and dean emeritus of León's bar association, died in León on Monday, 12 October 2026, aged 100. His son, former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is under investigation in the Plus Ultra case, which he denies.
The death
Juan Rodríguez García-Lozano died on Monday, 12 October 2026, in León, aged 100, according to EL PAÍS and EL MUNDO. EL MUNDO reported that the death occurred in the afternoon at the residential home for older people where he spent his last years. Sources close to the family said he had withstood the passing of time well until his death. Family members said he had lived 100 dignified years. Fuentes del PSOE, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, also confirmed the death that afternoon, which fell on the Día de la Hispanidad and the Armed Forces Day.
A career in law
He studied law and practised at the legal services of León City Council, and he led a prominent law firm in the city. He was dean emeritus of the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de León. Fernando Rodríguez Santocildes, president of the Consejo de la Abogacía de Castilla y León, expressed a "profound regret" on social media and said his career had become tied to the history of the legal profession. Santocildes also recalled that he took part in the IV Congreso de la Abogacía held in León in 1970, which he described as a milestone for the profession.
Family history
He was the son of Captain Juan Rodríguez Lozano, who was shot at the Puente Castro shooting range in León in August 1936 for declaring loyalty to the Second Republic. EL MUNDO gives the date as 18 August 1936 and says the captain had refused to take part in the military coup against the Republic. EL PAÍS reports that the former prime minister often referred to his father during his political career. The same outlet says the father maintained a close relationship with his son and had spent the summer with him, and that he always expressed great admiration for him.
- Captain Juan Rodríguez Lozano is shot at the Puente Castro range in León for staying loyal to the Second Republic
- Juan Rodríguez García-Lozano takes part in the IV Congreso de la Abogacía in León
- Juan Rodríguez García-Lozano dies in León, aged 100
Zapatero's legal situation
EL MUNDO reports that Zapatero is under investigation in the so-called 'Plus Ultra case' for serious crimes, and that he maintains his innocence. EL PAÍS describes the investigation as concerning possible influence peddling or money laundering. Three other people investigated in the case, identified as former executives of the airline and Zapatero's friend until now Julio Martínez, have named him as the head of a scheme that collected commissions in exchange for the government of Pedro Sánchez granting the company a 53 million euro aid during the pandemic in March 2021. These are allegations made by co-investigated people, and no charge or verdict is reported in the articles.
