Sawt Falasteen - Graft probe into Spanish ex-PM expanded to daughters

The investigation into a titan of the Spanish left comes as a string of other graft probes into Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's family and former top political allies have threatened to topple the government.

Zapatero, who governed Spain from 2004 to 2011, was placed under formal investigation last month suspected of influence peddling in connection with the 53-million-euro ($61 million) bailout of small airline Plus Ultra in 2021.

Investigating judge Jose Luis Calama has said evidence exists to suggest Zapatero headed a structure that used "opaque financial channels" to conceal the movement of money and obtain bribes for his manoeuvring to achieve the bailout.

Calama notified Alba and Laura Rodriguez Espinosa "to allow them to appear in the proceedings as persons under investigation and exercise their right of defence", the Audiencia Nacional court said in a statement.

The judge said both daughters ran a company "whose operations appear circumstantially to be linked to the scheme under investigation", justifying their inclusion in the probe.

The company held "an instrumental role in the channelling, concealment or facilitation of relevant operations", the statement added.

Police in May searched the offices of the company.

Zapatero's secretary Gertrudis Alcazar was also placed under investigation.

- 'Empathy and solidarity' -

The former premier defended his innocence during a three-hour hearing before Calama on Wednesday, in which he became the first former or serving Spanish head of government to declare as a suspect in a corruption investigation.

He said he had always acted "with decency and honesty" and denied owning companies, money or financial products illicitly.

Sanchez again backed his Socialist predecessor and mentor on Thursday, telling reporters in Brussels that he had "conveyed my personal support to him and, of course, my confidence in his innocence".

Sanchez also expressed "all my empathy and solidarity" with Zapatero's family.

A police search of Zapatero's office found jewellery and luxury watches valued at 1.3 million euros, leading Calama to probe additional alleged offences of tax fraud and smuggling.

Zapatero's entourage attributes the hoard to a family inheritance.

Spanish media reported that the jewels were a gift from a former king of Saudi Arabia.

N.Awad--SF-PST