Spain: Ex-Minister Zaplana Sentenced to Over 10 Years for Corruption

Zaplana sentenced to 10 years and 5 months for ITV inspection bribes

Eduardo Zaplana, former president of the Valencian Government and former Minister of Labour under the PP, has been sentenced to 10 years and 5 months in prison for accepting bribes related to the concession of vehicle inspection stations (ITV) in Valencia. The verdict arrives 25 years after the events, raising an uncomfortable question: if the convict had belonged to another party, would he still be laughing outside jail?

The news, first reported by Público and detailed by El País, states that Zaplana received bribes from Juan Cotino’s family business. Meanwhile, Zaplana’s name has become the latest chapter in a broader debate: whether corruption in Spain is partisan or simply selective impunity.

Charges and why the conviction comes now

The court found it proven that Zaplana participated in a scheme involving illegal commissions linked to the awarding of ITV station concessions in the Valencian Community. The beneficiary company was controlled by the Cotino family, according to published reports. The facts date back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Zaplana was president of the Generalitat and later Minister of Labour.

Judicial slowness is itself a key data point. Twenty-five years between the events and the sentence. During this time, Zaplana served in the Spanish government, as mayor of Benidorm—where massive urban developments were financed on credit—and endured numerous procedural delays. The lingering question is not just whether he stole, but why justice takes so long to say so.

Conservative response: Griñán and the 'you too' argument

Reaction in conservative circles was swift and predictable: "You too." Several messages recalled that José Antonio Griñán, former Socialist president of Andalusia, was also convicted in the ERE scandal. "Like Griñán," was repeated ad nauseam. However, the comparison is flawed: Griñán was convicted for prevarication and embezzlement in a public aid system, not for direct bribes from a concessionaire.

The discussion shifted to political symmetry. Some argue the PSOE is a party of honest politicians because "no one has gone to jail in 45 years of democracy." This claim, made without shame, ignores Griñán’s conviction and other socialist officials who have faced prison. But in dialectical combat, facts matter less than the scoreboard.

Valencian PP and Cotino’s shadow

Juan Cotino, who died in 2020, looms over the entire verdict. His family business benefited from the ITV concessions that allegedly generated illegal payments to Zaplana. Cotino was president of the Valencian Cortes and a strongman of the PP in the region. He was never thoroughly investigated; he died before justice reached him.

The ITV scheme is not isolated. It is part of a corruption ecosystem in the Valencian Community with its own names: Gürtel, Brugal, Emarsa. Zaplana’s conviction is the most visible piece of a puzzle that was never fully completed. As noted in analysis, "there was more corruption than Cotino’s, and that hasn’t surfaced."

PSOE, Andalusia, and the battle for the narrative

The debate easily drifted to Andalusia. Messages contrasted Zaplana’s conviction with the situation in Andalusia, governed by the PP since 2018. "Andalusia is the poorest region in the EU," some claimed, citing a 30.5% poverty rate, three times higher than the Basque Country.

The response was quick: "Andalusia won't recover for 30 years after decades of PSOE rule." The discussion mixed regional state, corruption, pardons, and each party’s historical memory. The result was a exchange of blows where data served more as weapons than as basis for analysis.

The unanswered question: Will he go to prison?

The 10-year and 5-month sentence is one of the harshest against a former minister in democratic history. But Spanish experience invites skepticism. Zaplana is over 70 and has cited health issues. Critics joked he is "sickly" and will leave as soon as he enters.

The law allows appeals to the Supreme Court, potentially delaying the process for years. If he finally goes to prison, he will be the first PP ex-minister jailed for corruption. If not, the sense of impunity will strengthen. The ball is in the Supreme Court’s court.

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Zaplana’s conviction closes nothing. It opens a new round of questions about Spanish justice, its slowness, and selectivity. With these elements, the case will likely make headlines for years. What is unclear is whether Zaplana will actually serve time. Recent history suggests not betting too heavily.