Zapatero gathered documents after associate's detention, WhatsApps reveal

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero began compiling documentation for his defense just days after the detention of his associate Julio Martínez, according to WhatsApp messages obtained by Infobae and El Mundo. The former Spanish prime minister exchanged dozens of messages with his secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, requesting details on travel, income, and invoices.

The timeline

The detention of Julio Martínez, administrator of Análisis Relevante, is reported by Infobae as December 9, 2024, while El Mundo and Infobae also indicate that Zapatero's document collection began in mid-December 2025, citing messages from December 16, 2025. This discrepancy in dates remains unresolved.

Key requests

• On December 16, 2025, Zapatero asked: "¿De cuándo es la primera factura de AR?" Source: El Mundo
• On January 17, 2026, he requested a list of travels and countries visited as ex-president, explicitly excluding Venezuela: "no Venezuela, claro" Source: Infobae
• After an El Mundo article on January 19, 2026, reporting that Zapatero received 450,000 euros from his associate, he asked for more specifics on income and activities Source: El Mundo
• On March 9, 2026, he received a message about an invoice from Thinking Heads, which he forwarded to his secretary for verification Source: Infobae

The expert advice

Zapatero referred to "expertos" who advised him to compile data on trips, conferences, and publications. He also asked for net income from AR and details on his property holdings Source: Infobae. The messages reveal a systematic effort to gather evidence as media scrutiny intensified.