José Luis Calama
Spanish judge
- Jul 7
Zapatero asks judge and tax agency to suspend inspection in Plus Ultra case, cancels Lanzarote vacation
The former Spanish prime minister filed two writs on Tuesday to suspend a tax inspection he calls 'unilateral and capricious', while also scrapping his traditional summer trip to Lanzarote for the first time in over a decade.
- Jul 3
Spain's tax agency opens inspections on former PM Zapatero and family to interrupt prescription clock
Spain's Tax Agency has opened inspections on former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his wife, daughters and a business associate for possible tax irregularities between 2021 and 2025, and requested suspension to avoid duplication with the ongoing criminal probe.
- Jul 2
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.
- Jun 26
Spanish judge offers tax agency to join case against former PM Zapatero over €1.3m jewels
Judge José Luis Calama has offered Spain's Tax Agency the chance to appear as an injured party in the investigation of former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over €1.3 million in jewels found in his office safe.
- Jun 17
Zapatero denies all corruption charges in first testimony before Spain's Audiencia Nacional but judge rules evidence stands
Former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared before investigating judge José Luis Calama on Wednesday, rejecting accusations of influence peddling, money laundering, tax fraud and smuggling linked to the Plus Ultra airline bailout. In a ruling issued after the three-hour hearing, the judge said Zapatero's statement failed to undercut the evidence against him.
- Jun 14
Former Spanish PM Zapatero faces tax fraud and smuggling charges over €1.3 million jewellery stash as PSOE’s legal ordeal deepens
The discovery of jewels valued at more than €1.3 million in a safe at José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s Madrid office has led the investigating judge to open an urgent separate case for tax fraud and smuggling against the former prime minister, compounding a growing judicial crisis for Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE.
- Jun 14
PSOE maintains 'absolute confidence' in Zapatero while denouncing judicial 'rush' to topple Sánchez government before summer
PSOE spokesperson Montse Mínguez said on Saturday the party has absolute confidence in former prime minister Zapatero, but condemned an accelerated judicial agenda designed to bring down Pedro Sánchez's government before summer.
- Jun 13
Feijóo urges snap election and 'national reconstruction' as corruption cases swell around Sánchez
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Pedro Sánchez's government of enabling a 'degradation' of politics, invoking the prime minister's own past anti-corruption rhetoric to demand a ballot.
- Jun 13
Zapatero faces tax fraud probe after €1.3 million jewels found in his safe, shaking Spain's ruling party
A separate court investigation into former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for tax fraud and smuggling has triggered a political crisis within the ruling Socialist Party, after jewelry valued at €1.3 million was found in his office safe.
- Jun 12
Zapatero under investigation for tax fraud and smuggling after €1.3m jewellery find
A Spanish judge has opened a separate investigation into former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged tax fraud and smuggling, after a safe in his office yielded jewellery valued at €1.32 million.
- Jun 11
PSOE drops nearly five points in first CIS poll after Zapatero indictment and Ferraz raid, but holds narrow lead over PP
The governing Socialists lost 4.9 percentage points in the June CIS barometer, the first survey taken after the indictment of former prime minister Zapatero and the UCO search of party headquarters, yet remain ahead of the PP by 4.2 points.
- May 28
Spain's Senate censures Sánchez government over corruption scandals as key allies PNV and Junts abstain
The Spanish Senate approved a non-binding motion on Wednesday condemning Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government over multiple corruption investigations, with crucial parliamentary allies PNV and Junts abstaining rather than voting against the measure.
- May 27
García-Page leads PSOE rebellion, demands Sánchez call elections or face confidence vote after Zapatero indictment
Castilla-La Mancha president Emiliano García-Page has openly challenged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, calling for immediate general elections or a parliamentary confidence vote after the indictment of former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
- May 26
Zapatero Case: Jewels, Secret Agendas, and 16 Million Euros Diverted from Plus Ultra Rescue to a Gold Trafficking Network
The judicial investigation tightens around former Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, with police seizing jewels and agendas from his office and tracing millions from the Plus Ultra airline bailout to opaque accounts linked to gold trafficking.
