Politics · Spain · 15 hrs ago
Spanish court allows inquiry into Zapatero over alleged influence in Bolivia
Spain’s National Court has allowed an inquiry into José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to examine alleged influence over Bolivian authorities.
The former Spanish prime minister had asked the court to exclude a police report from the investigation.
Investigators suspect he received €200,000 linked to work for Peru’s Gloria group, with the payment allegedly channelled through a company called Focus as consulting fees.
They say the suspected effort involved influencing Bolivian authorities over the group’s disputes with the country’s government.
The court said messages found on devices seized from Zapatero’s office provided grounds to examine the allegations, and rejected his challenge.
The investigation will continue; the court’s decision does not establish that Zapatero committed a crime.
Spain’s National Court has allowed an inquiry into former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over alleged influence-peddling in Bolivia.
The court rejected Zapatero’s appeal to exclude a police report about a payment of 200,000 euros.
Investigators suspect he sought to influence Bolivian authorities in favour of the Peruvian business group Gloria.
His defence says the payment was for legal consultancy work and argued the inquiry had been improperly broadened.
The court said there were sufficient indications to investigate his relationship with Focus.
- Who
- José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain’s former prime minister, is under investigation.
- What
- The National Court allowed investigators to examine suspected influence-peddling in Bolivia linked to a payment of 200,000 euros.
- When
- The court ruling was reported on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The alleged influence was directed at authorities in Bolivia; the case is before Spain’s National Court.
- Why
- Investigators suspect Zapatero acted for the Peruvian group Gloria in disputes with Bolivia’s public administration and was paid. His defence says the payment was for legal consultancy.
Zapatero’s defence
National Court and investigators
Scope of inquiry
Zapatero’s defence
The defence argued the judge had unjustifiably extended the investigation to Zapatero’s personal or professional activity.
National Court and investigators
The court found sufficient indications to investigate his relationship with Focus over alleged influence-peddling in Bolivia.
Payment
Zapatero’s defence
The defence said the 200,000 euros were for legal consultancy work.
National Court and investigators
Investigators suspect the payment was remuneration for efforts on behalf of Gloria, allegedly channelled through Focus as consultancy work.
Authorities searched Zapatero’s office and seized devices.
A police report linked Zapatero to suspected efforts to influence Bolivian authorities for Gloria and a possible payment of 200,000 euros.
The National Court rejected Zapatero’s appeal and allowed the inquiry to continue.
- Payment under investigation
- 200,000 euros
- Company linked to payment
- Focus
- Business group allegedly represented
- Gloria, a Peruvian group
- Court
- Spain’s National Court
- Ruling reported
- November 10, 2026
3 sources
La Audiencia Nacional da luz verde a investigar a Zapatero por un supuesto tráfico de influencias en Bolivia
La Audiencia avala investigar a Zapatero por presunto tráfico de influencias en Bolivia
La Audiencia Nacional avala investigar a Zapatero por presunto tráfico de influencias en Bolivia tras el cobro de 200.000 euros
What people are saying
conversations have been detected from which possible influence by this last investigated person before the authorities of Bolivia in favour of the Peruvian business group called Gloria can be inferred, for which he may have been remunerated through the aforementioned transfers from Focus
try to mediate or influence