In Catalonia, the latest developments around former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero point back to October 2024, when suspicions first emerged from an intercepted chat between businessmen linked to a corruption case.
The chat logs suggested a personal and economic link between Venezuelan fugitive Danilo Diazgranados Manglano and a person identified as “Zorro”, “Z” or “ZZZZ”. According to reports, Judge Esperanza Collazos of Madrid’s Instruction Court number 15 set out those details before transferring the case to the Audiencia Nacional in February, citing its national significance.
The formal imputation against Zapatero was announced on 19 May, but the underlying inquiry had already been building for months. The 2024 chat provided the first concrete lead connecting a high-profile figure to the alleged illicit activity, and the references to “Zorro” or “Z” drew investigators’ attention.
Diazgranados Manglano is currently wanted by the authorities and remains a key figure in the wider investigation. His alleged ties to the unnamed “Z” or “Zorro” formed part of the evidence that led to the case being escalated and sent to the Audiencia Nacional.
The court will continue examining the links between Diazgranados Manglano and the person identified as “Z”. For background on related coverage, see our news page.