Spanish Court Rejects Suspension of Tax Inspection into Zapatero and Family

A Spanish court has denied a request to halt the tax inspection of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his family. The court ruled that the ongoing criminal investigation into Zapatero's alleged involvement in the Plus Ultra case does not overlap sufficiently with the tax inspection to warrant its suspension. This decision allows the Agencia Tributaria (Tax Agency) to continue its scrutiny of Zapatero's financial affairs, including those of his wife, Sonsoles Espinosa, and their daughters, covering the period from 2021 to 2024. The tax inspection focuses on various taxes, including income tax, wealth tax, and value-added tax. The court emphasized that only in exceptional circumstances would it permit the suspension of such inspections, and that mechanisms exist to prevent double penalties. The ruling also noted that the criminal investigation and the tax inspection address different aspects, with the former concerning alleged influence peddling and the latter focusing on tax obligations. The court's decision underscores the independence of the tax inspection process from ongoing criminal investigations.