The caseSánchez says: ‘Everything’s fine with Morocco.’ Rabat doesn’t see it that wayFollowing the Ceuta crisis, the Spanish government maintains that “relations with Morocco are at an all-time high”. However, diplomatic sources and independent analysts are calling for a change of tone, if not an outright U-turn, following years of migration-related pressurebyMarcello Sacco18 AUG 26
barrier and barbed wireMid-August in Ceuta and the absence of two key female ministersWith the threat of further waves of migrants, efforts are underway to resolve the crisis. Those absent from MadridbyMarcello Sacco14 AUG 26
the political consequencesCeuta marks a new low for Sánchez’s PSOEWhat has changed in Spain following the disaster in the exclave? Polls show the opposition gaining ground, and the Socialist Prime Minister is devising contingency plans, whilst discontent is mounting on both sides of the MediterraneanbyMarcello Sacco10 AUG 26
following repatriationThe Spanish government is dealing with the fallout from CeutaDozens of deaths, Madrid’s strained relations with Morocco and Algeria, and the much-repeated war on human traffickers. It is still too early to talk about the ‘day after’byMarcello Sacco5 AUG 26
pending the expert reportThe investigation into Zapatero’s jewellery continuesThere are at least two alleged offences: tax evasion and smuggling. Further analysis could also establish the date of the donation, thereby clarifying the origin of the valuables and the possible breach of the code of ethics promoted by the former prime minister himselfbyMarcello Sacco25 JUL 26
The defenceFrom corruption to jewellery, Zapatero appears on TV and denies the allegationsIn court, Julito Martínez had identified him as the mastermind behind a corrupt scheme. But in a television interview, the former Spanish Prime Minister, denying that he had spoken to members of the government – which, during the pandemic, granted a 53 million loan to Plus Ultra – stated that it was all falsebyMarcello Sacco24 JUL 26
Down with the former prime ministerJulito, a running partner and business associate on the Plus Ultra case, dismantles Zapatero’s defenceThe businessman essentially confirmed the prosecution’s case by admitting that the airline was more Venezuelan than Spanish. He also confirmed that he had no political influence whatsoever: he acted merely as an intermediary between the former prime minister and the clients that the latter brought to himbyMarcello Sacco22 JUL 26
In SpainSánchez scores a legal victory on the amnesty, but the political crisis remainsSánchez scores two partial victories: his wife will stand trial on only two charges, whilst the CJEU has ruled that the amnesty for Catalan leaders is compatible with EU law. However, one year on from the vote, the political problems remainbyMarcello Sacco16 JUL 26