On 19 May 2026, former Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero was charged for being the main backer of that murderous regime.
Justice & Anti-CorruptionSpain
- Error detected
- The claim states Zapatero was charged 'for being the main backer of that murderous regime.' The actual judicial charges are for criminal organization, influence peddling, and document falsification in the Plus Ultra airline bailout case. While the case has Venezuelan links, the legal basis for the charges is not his political support for any regime.
- Omissions
- The claim omits the actual legal charges (criminal organization, influence peddling, document falsification) and substitutes them with a political characterization ('main backer of that murderous regime'). The charges relate to the Plus Ultra airline bailout corruption case, not to a direct judicial finding about supporting a foreign regime.
- All sources found were published on or after 19 May 2026, the same day as the session. The MEP is speaking about an event unfolding on the very same day, and all sources confirm the charge was made public that morning.
- The 'murderous regime' is not named in the claim but contextually refers to the Venezuelan government under Nicolás Maduro. The Plus Ultra case involves Venezuelan connections, but the judicial charges do not include 'backing a murderous regime' as a criminal offense.
- Sources
- SecondaryRTVEEl expresidente ha sido imputado por organización criminal, tráfico de influencias y falsedad documental.
- SecondaryEl PaísEl juez ha imputado al expresidente José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero por tráfico de influencias y falsedad documental en relación con el rescate de la aerolínea Plus Ultra.
- SecondaryThe GuardianFormer Spanish PM under criminal investigation as €53m bailout of airline examined. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who denies any wrongdoing, has been placed under formal criminal investigation.
- SecondaryEl País in EnglishThe ex-prime minister is accused of receiving $2 million linked to the public bailout of the airline Plus Ultra.
- SecondaryEl DiarioEl juez Calama ha imputado este martes al expresidente por organización criminal, falsedad y tráfico de influencias en el caso Plus Ultra.