Judge summons Zapatero's friend Julio Martínez in Plus Ultra case

A Spanish judge has summoned businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a close friend and alleged proxy of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to testify on July 21 in the ongoing Plus Ultra corruption investigation. Martínez is considered by the court to be the principal lieutenant and visible figure of a network that allegedly funneled money from companies seeking public aid to Zapatero and his family Source: El ConfidencialSource: Infobae/EFE.

The summons

The Audiencia Nacional judge José Luis Calama issued the summons one week after Zapatero himself testified as a suspect. Martínez must explain the role of his consultancy Análisis Relevante, which the judge describes as an "instrumental" company used to simulate advisory services and channel funds. According to the court, Zapatero received €490,780 from it between 2020 and 2025, while his daughters' company What The Fav received €239,755 Source: El Confidencial.

The case

The investigation centers on whether Zapatero used his influence to secure a €53 million government bailout for the airline Plus Ultra in 2021 in exchange for kickbacks. Key elements include:

• An alleged network of 39 companies controlled by Martínez between 2020 and 2024, 20 now inactive, including one registered in the British Virgin Islands Source: Infobae/EFE.
• Police reports and witness statements describing Martínez as Zapatero's "henchman" or "lacayo" Source: El Confidencial.
• Zapatero denies all allegations and has also been charged with tax fraud and smuggling related to 80 pieces of jewelry worth €1.3 million found in a safe Source: Infobae/EFE.

What's next

Martínez has recently changed lawyers, hiring María Dolores Márquez de Prado, a well-known attorney who defended Rosalía Iglesias in the Gürtel case Source: El Confidencial. His testimony could be pivotal in determining whether the case proceeds to trial. The judge has already indicted Zapatero, his daughters, and his secretary.