Julio Martínez reveals Zapatero's daughters were paid without working

Is it possible to get paid for three years without working at a public body?

Journalist Julio Martínez has revealed a story that has peine the debate over the funding of public officials and nepotism in Spanish politics. According to his findings, the daughters of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero allegedly received salaries for three years without performing any work, reportedly through public contracts or subsidies.

The figures and the allegations
Although the exact amounts have not been detailed, unofficial sources suggest the sums would be substantial. Some analysts point out that the work carried out — if it existed at all — was limited to low-value tasks, such as copying and pasting content from the Internet for supposed R&D reports, which were also paid at prices far above those of international consultancies such as McKinsey or Bain. The comparison could not be more damning.

Clashing positions
On one side are those who see this as a clear case of abuse of power and squandering of public money. On the other, some argue that Zapatero's daughters are professionals in diplomacy and international logistics and that the work was legitimate, even though the available evidence is thin. The tone of the debate, heavy with irony, reflects the polarization the case has generated.

An uncomfortable precedent
It is not the first time cases of public employees being paid without working have been reported, but the Zapatero name takes the controversy to the national level. The lack of transparency in public procurement and the opacity of certain bodies make it possible for such situations to happen again. If confirmed, the scandal would be another blow to the image of the political class.

In any case, until there is a judicial investigation or an independent audit, everything remains in the realm of suspicion. But the question lingers: how many similar cases are there that never come to light?