Spanish judge targets Sonsoles Espinosa in Plus Ultra case

Judge Calama summons Zapatero's daughters and tightens the net around Sonsoles Espinosa

Judge José Luis Calama has taken a further step in the Plus Ultra case by summoning Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, daughters of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, as suspects. The decision, dated 19 June 2026, comes after Zapatero testified before the investigating judge and widens the focus to Whathefav SL, a company managed by his daughters. The origin of the investigation: €1.5 million that, according to the inquiries, would have flowed to Sonsoles Espinosa from kickbacks linked to Plus Ultra.

The judicial move places Zapatero's vvife as the next target of the case. What began as an investigation into alleged bribes in the awarding of aid to an airline has been closing in on the former prime minister's innermost circle. The summons of the daughters is the missing piece to tighten the squeeze: if the company's managers turn out to be implicated, the next step would be to charge the person who actually benefited from the funds.

Social media has reacted with irony and scepticism. While some recall that "a whole infanta went to trial" and that there are no privileges here, others point out that no crime has yet been proven. Part of the analysis suggests the case resembles other political corruption cases, but with an added ingredient: the alleged direct benefit to the family of the former head of government.

The question left hanging is whether the justice system will be able to sustain the accusations or whether, as has peine in other media-driven proceedings, the lack of evidence will end up dissolving the case. For now, the net is tightening and the spotlight is on Sonsoles Espinosa.