Overview
- Police from the Guardia Civil's Central Operative Unit entered the PSOE headquarters Wednesday to collect documents for a sealed National Court inquiry focused on former party operative María Leire Díez.
- The operation was authorised by National Court judge Santiago Pedraz and comes after last week's formal charges against former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over the 2021 Plus Ultra airline bailout.
- Investigators report seizing large sums of cash, more than 100 pieces of jewellery and digital communications that prosecutors say may link Zapatero’s circle to Venezuelan commercial transactions, though those alleged ties remain under active review.
- Prosecutors allege a scheme that used false invoices and diverted funds to finance influence operations and attempts to discredit critics, and a party finance manager and several former officials now appear formally implicated.
- The raids have intensified political pressure on Sánchez's minority government, prompting calls for early elections from opposition leaders and unease among coalition partners while Sánchez says he will cooperate with the courts and stay in office.