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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 19th 2026 - 12:26 UTC

Tag: Spain

  • Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 08:31 UTC

    Spain's ex-PM Zapatero testifies as a suspect in the Plus Ultra bailout case

    The magistrate attributes to him the alleged offenses of criminal organization, influence peddling, money laundering and documentary falsification

    Spain's former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared on Wednesday before Judge José Luis Calama, of the Audiencia Nacional, as an investigated person in the Plus Ultra case, in what constitutes an unprecedented event in Spanish democracy: it is the first time a former head of the Executive sits before a magistrate as a suspect. He will answer questions from the judge and his lawyer, but not from the Anti-Corruption prosecutor.

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  • Monday, May 25th 2026 - 01:06 UTC

    Spanish police investigate Plus Ultra bailout scheme, linking Zapatero with Maduro's circle

    The exchange concluded with a characterization of the former Spanish prime minister as “pro-Sánchez” and “pro-Maduro,” and with the phrase “the end justifies the means”

    The Spanish National Police's Economic and Tax Crime Unit (UDEF) considers that former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero may have exercised “non-visible leadership” in an alleged influence network that facilitated the EUR 53 million bailout of airline Plus Ultra during the covid-19 pandemic. The report, comprising more than 300 pages and submitted to National Court judge José Luis Calama, was disclosed on Saturday by the outlet Infobae España and forms part of the judicial file investigating the maneuvers to obtain the public aid from the State Industrial Holdings Company (SEPI) in 2021.

  • Wednesday, May 6th 2026 - 16:10 UTC

    WHO confirms Andes strain in MV Hondius outbreak and traces 23 passengers who disembarked at Saint Helena

    The MV Hondius is expected to take between three and four days to reach the Canary Islands from its current position off Cape Verde

    The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that the variant responsible for the hantavirus outbreak aboard polar cruise ship MV Hondius is the Andes virus, the only documented strain capable of human-to-human transmission, raised the total number of linked cases to eight, and launched the international tracing of 23 passengers who left the ship two weeks ago during a stop at the island of Saint Helena. The confirmation of the strain represents a significant epidemiological development and substantially widens the scope of the health investigation.

  • Tuesday, May 5th 2026 - 21:58 UTC

    Spain agrees to receive hantavirus-hit cruise ship in Canary Islands following WHO request

    The reception protocol will be developed by the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

    The Spanish government on Tuesday night authorised the docking in the Canary Islands of the polar cruise ship MV Hondius, on which a hantavirus outbreak has already left three people dead, after Cape Verdean authorities denied it entry to their ports and following a formal request from the World Health Organization (WHO) that invoked Spain's “moral and legal obligation” to assist the 147 passengers and crew on board, including 14 Spanish citizens.

  • Friday, April 17th 2026 - 21:49 UTC

    Lula and Sanchez seal progressive alliance in Barcelona and call for front against global far right

    Sánchez responded that Spain and Brazil share “the same vision of the world, anchored in the defense of democracy, international cooperation, respect for international law and human rights, and peace”

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday cemented a political alliance in Barcelona between the European and Latin American left against the advance of the far right on both continents. At the first bilateral Spain-Brazil summit, held at the Pedralbes Palace with military honors and the participation of roughly ten ministers from each side, both leaders displayed total alignment and signed a series of cooperation agreements.

  • Wednesday, April 15th 2026 - 02:30 UTC

    Orsi to meet Sanchez, Sheinbaum and Ramaphosa in Barcelona at multilateralism summit

    The summit is the fourth edition of a process that began in New York in 2024 and continued in Santiago de Chile in July 2025, when Orsi participated alongside Sánchez

    Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi will travel to Barcelona on Friday to attend the fourth “Democracy Always” summit, a gathering of 19 heads of state convened by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, where the Uruguayan leader will focus his remarks on “the value of multilateralism,” according to Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin.

  • Thursday, March 19th 2026 - 22:59 UTC

    Uruguay to seek damages after Spanish shipyard Cardama fails to appeal OPV contract termination

    The contract, signed under the administration of former president Luis Lacalle Pou, provided for the construction of two OPV vessels for Uruguay’s Navy

    Spanish shipyard Cardama did not file an appeal against the Uruguayan government’s decision to terminate the contract for the purchase of two offshore patrol vessels for the Navy, meaning the measure is now final and the Ministry of Defence will move ahead with a claim for damages. The confirmation came on Thursday from Presidential Secretary Jorge Díaz.

  • Tuesday, March 3rd 2026 - 23:36 UTC

    Trump threatens to cut off all trade with Spain after base refusal tied to Iran strikes

    “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said

    U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to impose a total trade embargo on Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government refused to allow the use of the Rota and Morón bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

  • Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:38 UTC

    Senate commission to review Cardama contract after Uruguay cancels ocean patrol vessel deal

    On 28 October, Orsi added that the previous administration had been “clearly” deceived in the Cardama case

    A pre-investigative commission will begin work on Wednesday in Uruguay’s Senate to examine the contract with Spanish shipbuilder Cardama for two ocean patrol vessels (OPVs), recently cancelled by President Yamandú Orsi’s government.

  • Friday, February 13th 2026 - 23:59 UTC

    Uruguay cancels Cardama OPV deal over “serious breaches,” moves toward legal action

    In October 2025, Orsi had already announced an intention to terminate the agreement, citing “strong indications of fraud or swindle against the Uruguayan State.”

    Uruguay’s government has terminated its contract with Spain’s Cardama shipyard for the construction of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Uruguayan Navy, citing “serious contractual breaches,” and said it will seek damages through legal action.

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