Montero’s earlier comments have resurfaced after Zapatero was charged in the Plus Ultra investigation.
The indictment of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in the so-called Plus Ultra case has brought renewed attention to previous public statements made by María Jesús Montero, who repeatedly praised the Socialist leader during the recent Andalusian campaign and even stated that she hoped to become like him politically in the future.
The former Finance Minister’s remarks have resurfaced after the court moved to investigate Zapatero for alleged offenses such as influence peddling, participation in a criminal organization, and document forgery tied to the probe into the Plus Ultra airline bailout.
During several campaign events organized by the Andalusian branch of the PSOE, Montero portrayed the former prime minister as a key figure within the party. At a rally in Jaén, she described him as her “good luck charm” and said he was “a good man” and a political example she would like to emulate.
Public displays of support were also repeated at events in Huelva and Cádiz. During those appearances, Montero highlighted Zapatero’s role as one of Pedro Sánchez’s main political allies and praised his commitment to defending the Socialist project. She even stated that, once her own political career ended, she hoped “in a few years” to become someone like the former prime minister.
Those remarks have taken on renewed political significance following Zapatero’s indictment by Spain’s National Court. The investigating judge is examining whether the former Socialist leader participated in an alleged influence network linked to the approval of public aid for Plus Ultra during the pandemic.
The judicial case centers on the €53 million government bailout authorized in 2021 to stop the airline from going under, and investigators are now assessing whether any undue political pressure or institutional interference may have been exerted to benefit the company during the approval process.
According to court documents included in the proceedings, the judge believes Zapatero may have used his institutional contacts to facilitate favorable decisions related to the rescue package. The investigation is also examining alleged business connections and payments involving figures close to the former prime minister.
Although opposition parties have seized on Montero’s earlier remarks to heighten political pressure on the PSOE, Socialist officials continue to uphold Zapatero’s presumption of innocence until the judicial process reaches its conclusion.
Source: Libertad Digital https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/politica/2026-05-19/la-bochornosa-hemeroteca-de-montero-con-zapatero-imputado-en-el-caso-plus-ultra-en-unos-anos-quiero-ser-como-el-7406422/
