Judge Rejects Suspending Tax Investigations of Zapatero Family

The judge in the 'Plus Ultra' case has rejected ordering Hacienda to suspend the tax investigations of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, his wife Sonsoles Espinosa, their daughters Laura and Alba Rodríguez, and the company Whathefav. The judge agreed with the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office that there is no correspondence between the criminal investigation and the tax inspections. The only exception is the investigation into the jewels found in Zapatero's office, but the fiscal and penal scope of these items is still pending definition. The judge also rejected the argument that the tax inspection should be suspended due to potential self-incrimination.