Montero’s past remarks have resurfaced following Zapatero’s indictment 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 comments have returned to the spotlight after the court decision to investigate Zapatero over alleged crimes including influence peddling, criminal organization, and document falsification in connection with the investigation into the rescue of airline Plus Ultra.
At multiple campaign gatherings hosted by the Andalusian branch of the PSOE, Montero depicted the former prime minister as an essential figure in the party, and during a rally in Jaén, she called him her “good luck charm” and emphasized that he was “a good man” and a political model she hoped to follow.
Public expressions of backing were likewise echoed at gatherings in Huelva and Cádiz, where Montero underscored Zapatero’s place as one of Pedro Sánchez’s key political allies and commended his dedication to upholding the Socialist project. She went so far as to say that, when her own political path concludes, she hopes that “in a few years” she might become someone akin to 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.
Main 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/