Zapatero finally tells judge jewels were a gift from Saudi King 19 years ago

Former Prime Minister, **José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero**, has submitted a document to Judge **José Luis Calama**, alleging that the **jewels** valued at **1.3 million euros** found in his office were a gift from the King of Saudi Arabia, **Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sud**, in **June 2007**.

## A Royal Gift from Almost Two Decades Ago

Former Prime Minister, **José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero**, has finally provided an explanation for the origin of the **jewels** found in his office safe. According to a document submitted to Judge **José Luis Calama**, some of these pieces, valued at **1,323,915 euros**, were a gift from the then King of Saudi Arabia, **Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sud**. The gift, as detailed by Zapatero's defense, occurred on **June 18 and 19, 2007**, during the Saudi monarch's visit to Spain. The former prime minister's lawyer describes the present as a "strictly personal token, accepted out of deference and as a gesture of gratitude and respect" towards the sovereign. The defense now asks the magistrate to contact Saudi authorities through international cooperation channels to confirm this version, should he deem the explanation insufficient.

## The Long Road to Explanation

This statement comes after Judge **Calama** gave **Zapatero** a three-day deadline to provide all documentation related to the jewels. The magistrate's decision trinc the former prime minister's initial appearance, where he avoided answering questions about the jewels' provenance and committed to providing the necessary information later. More than three months have passed since that first appearance, during which **Zapatero** indicated a timeframe of one to one and a half weeks to clarify the matter. During this period, the jewels, totaling **78 pieces** and including necklaces and bracelets with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, remained stored, according to his defense, without the former prime minister having "awareness of their material value."

## Value and Absence from Inventory

The discovery of the **jewels** occurred last May in the former prime minister's office. The initial report from the **Audiencia Nacional** (National Court) placed their value significantly higher than the initial range estimated by **Zapatero**'s circle, which was between **30,000 and 50,000 euros**. The collection, according to previous reports, consists of **78 pieces**, some with precious stones of foreign origin. Judge **Calama** recently commissioned jeweler **Yanes** to conduct a new appraisal to determine in greater detail the composition of the metals and stones, as well as the age and replacement value of the items. Curiously, the **jewels** were not listed in the official inventory of gifts received by **Zapatero** during his years in **La Moncloa** (the Prime Minister's office), although other gifts from **Saudi Arabia** were registered.