Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero remains under investigation by the Audiencia Nacional in the Caso Plus Ultra for alleged influence peddling, criminal organization, and money laundering tied to the 2021 €53 million public bailout of the airline. He was formally imputed in May 2026, testified voluntarily in June without restriction on his movements, and faces a parallel inquiry into jewelry valued over €1.3 million seized from his office. As of mid-September 2026, the defense continues to challenge the scope of police financial probes, including recent appeals seeking to exclude reports on his Bolivia-related activities and bank records as outside the case perimeter. Spanish judicial timelines for complex corruption matters typically extend well beyond initial inquiries, with no custodial measures imposed to date and the former leader cooperating while maintaining political involvement. Trader consensus on arrest by year-end reflects these procedural realities and the absence of flight-risk findings.