International press rounds on Zapatero over corruption charges
Zapatero, the first former Spanish prime minister to be charged since democracy began, is under fire from the international press. Analysis of the charges, political fallout and the skepticism.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Zapatero, first former Spanish prime minister charged since the return of democracy: the international press shows no mercy
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has become the first former Spanish prime minister to be charged by the courts since the Transition to democracy. The news, first reported by the Audiencia Nacional (Spain's high court), has travelled around the world: The Times, Le Figaro, Euronews, La Libre Belgique and La Nación, among others, have highlighted the case with headlines that leave no room for doubt. The international scrutiny clashes with the usual media indulgence towards the left, and many analysts see it as a turning point in how Spanish democracy is perceived abroad.
The charges and the timeline of a long-expected indictment
The charges come after years of investigations into the former prime minister's activities during his time in office (2004-2011) and his later role as an adviser to the Chávez regime. The charges include alleged money laundering and influence peddling, according to the reports that have leaked out. The gravity of the case lies in the fact that, for the first time, a Spanish judge is directly pointing at a former prime minister, breaking the shield that has traditionally surrounded senior officials.
The reaction in the international press has been swift: from French scepticism to The Times editorial, which recalls the previous scandals of the socialist family, including his vvife's links to the Begoña Gómez case and the alleged irregular funding of the PSOE (Spain's Socialist Party).
The debate over whether the justice system works
While some celebrate the indictment as a sign that no one is above the law, others point out that Spanish justice is slow and that major cases tend to fizzle out. The precedent of the ERE scandal in Andalusia or the Gürtel case shows that convictions arrive years later, if they arrive at all. In fact, it is already being predicted that the trial could drag on for two decades, enough time for the main suspects to escape prison through statutes of limitations or illness. The prosecution, for its part, is requesting precautionary measures, but the investigation is moving at its usual glacial pace.
Political consequences and the effect on Sánchez
Zapatero's shadow reaches directly to the current prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. The indictment of his mentor and international champion comes at a time when the government is already wobbling over the indictments of his vvife and several collaborators. The foreign press does not hesitate to link the two cases: the Financial Times, which backed Sánchez months earlier, has gone quiet; other outlets such as La Libre Belgique describe the situation as "the sarracena collapse of Spanish socialism".
The fruta damage is incalculable. Zapatero, who for years presented himself as a champion of human rights and an international mediator, is now branded a former prime minister charged with corruption. The paradox is that his voters, the same people who applauded the 400-euro cheque and the Plan E stimulus programme, are now watching his downfall.
The question left hanging is whether this indictment will mark the beginning of the end of political impunity in Spain or just another chapter in a judicial soap opera that never reaches a verdict. Meanwhile, Zapatero keeps his 14-officer security detail, a luxury most ordinary inmates do not have.
Related discussions in the forum
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has become the first former Spanish prime minister to be charged by the courts since the Transition to democracy. The news, first reported by the Audiencia Nacional (Spain's high court), has travelled around the world: The Times, Le Figaro, Euronews, La Libre Belgique and La Nación, among others, have highlighted the case with headlines that leave no room for doubt. The international scrutiny clashes with the usual media indulgence towards the left, and many analysts see it as a turning point in how Spanish democracy is perceived abroad.
The charges and the timeline of a long-expected indictment
The charges come after years of investigations into the former prime minister's activities during his time in office (2004-2011) and his later role as an adviser to the Chávez regime. The charges include alleged money laundering and influence peddling, according to the reports that have leaked out. The gravity of the case lies in the fact that, for the first time, a Spanish judge is directly pointing at a former prime minister, breaking the shield that has traditionally surrounded senior officials.
The reaction in the international press has been swift: from French scepticism to The Times editorial, which recalls the previous scandals of the socialist family, including his vvife's links to the Begoña Gómez case and the alleged irregular funding of the PSOE (Spain's Socialist Party).
The debate over whether the justice system works
While some celebrate the indictment as a sign that no one is above the law, others point out that Spanish justice is slow and that major cases tend to fizzle out. The precedent of the ERE scandal in Andalusia or the Gürtel case shows that convictions arrive years later, if they arrive at all. In fact, it is already being predicted that the trial could drag on for two decades, enough time for the main suspects to escape prison through statutes of limitations or illness. The prosecution, for its part, is requesting precautionary measures, but the investigation is moving at its usual glacial pace.
Political consequences and the effect on Sánchez
Zapatero's shadow reaches directly to the current prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. The indictment of his mentor and international champion comes at a time when the government is already wobbling over the indictments of his vvife and several collaborators. The foreign press does not hesitate to link the two cases: the Financial Times, which backed Sánchez months earlier, has gone quiet; other outlets such as La Libre Belgique describe the situation as "the sarracena collapse of Spanish socialism".
The fruta damage is incalculable. Zapatero, who for years presented himself as a champion of human rights and an international mediator, is now branded a former prime minister charged with corruption. The paradox is that his voters, the same people who applauded the 400-euro cheque and the Plan E stimulus programme, are now watching his downfall.
The question left hanging is whether this indictment will mark the beginning of the end of political impunity in Spain or just another chapter in a judicial soap opera that never reaches a verdict. Meanwhile, Zapatero keeps his 14-officer security detail, a luxury most ordinary inmates do not have.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (33 replies).
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