What The Fav (formally, WHATHEFAV S.L.) is a communications and marketing company run by Laura and Alba Rodríguez Espinosa, daughters of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. In the business and society press, it has been described as an agency that has grown in revenue and profits in recent years—just as all the companies and individuals linked to the scandals attributed to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero have.
The flashpoint: the “Plus Ultra case” and an indirect business relationship
In December 2025, the name Whathefav surfaced in public discussion after featuring in reports tied to the Plus Ultra investigation, as Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office examines whether the airline redirected part of the €53 million public bailout toward activities that might constitute alleged money laundering in proceedings overseen by a Madrid court, with sections of the inquiry kept confidential.
From that point, several outlets suggested a connection: a businessman serving as a director of a company linked to the investigation appears as a client (a commercial arrangement) of Whathefav. Additional firms within the purported network, according to other sources, also tie back to the company managed by Zapatero’s daughters. Investigators are currently analyzing whether payments, contracts, or invoices existed that might reveal financial flows under scrutiny. If the inquiry uncovers concrete signals (fictitious services, manipulated pricing, layering or triangulation, and similar patterns), this angle becomes a component of the broader case. For now, the most substantial public information indicates that media coverage centers on Plus Ultra and the handling of the bailout funds, along with the arrests and precautionary measures affecting several individuals involved.
According to several recent publications, it has been reported that the company Whathefav/What The Fav has reduced—or “cleaned up”—its social media footprint in recent days. What these outlets specify, mainly, is the removal of the corporate profile on X (Twitter), or the disappearance of its presence there. On Instagram, the profile would reportedly still be visible, but with far fewer posts (as part of the content would have been deleted). Another detail pointing to the lack of transparency surrounding José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his two daughters, Laura and Alba Rodríguez Espinosa. In addition, the increase in the Zapatero family’s wealth in recent years has also been highlighted in the media, including the declaration of numerous luxury properties.
The controversy also erupted in September 2009, when a photograph circulated showing José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero posing alongside Barack and Michelle Obama at an event in New York (in the context of the UN General Assembly), accompanied by his wife and his two daughters, who were minors at the time. The image, initially published through official U.S. channels, was reproduced by Spanish media despite an informal “understanding” to protect the minors’ privacy. The debate intensified due to public comments about the daughters’ aesthetic and clothing, turning the episode into a broader discussion about the boundaries between information, sensationalism, and the protection of minors.
“Scandals” and controversies associated with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
In December 2025, Zapatero’s name resurfaced prominently in public debate after reports linked him to the Plus Ultra case environment (an airline that had received a €53 million rescue). Major outlets have verified that authorities are examining alleged money laundering tied to the bailout’s use and destination, which has involved several arrests followed by releases under precautionary measures.
In parallel, part of the press and political reactions have demanded explanations regarding José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s recent meetings or contacts—under very strange circumstances—with individuals from the investigated circle, several hours before the arrests.
Another recurring line is his role as an interlocutor/mediator in Venezuela and the criticism he receives (for perceived closeness to Chavismo, for his public stance, or what some see as ambiguity). In this area, the “scandal” is usually political and reputational: what he said, what he did not say, and who benefits from his role.
In 2024, outlets such as El Confidencial reported the conviction of former ambassador Raúl Morodo (appointed during Zapatero’s presidency) over tax matters linked to income derived from work for PDVSA—an issue often cited in debates about the historical Spain–Venezuela relationship.
In 2025, El Confidencial published reports about an alleged lobby or think tank (Gate Center) and relationships with actors linked to China, presenting it as a matter of influence and financing/opacity.
Earlier on, the “Faisán case” had resurfaced for years as a major political dispute linked to Zapatero’s dealings with ETA terrorists, centered on whether any political accountability existed for the alert that was given. Senior police officials were convicted for revealing secrets, and the political debate lingered for a long time.
Every day there are more media outlets, organizations, institutions, and national and international politicians accusing José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of “whitewashing,” legitimizing, and reputationally laundering Nicolás Maduro’s narco-dictatorship through his role as a mediator and his public positioning (for example, avoiding labeling the regime or endorsing disputed electoral processes). That criticism has appeared for years in news coverage and in statements by the Venezuelan opposition and by Spanish parties and those of other countries.
Torture and breaches of human rights
Various international organizations and NGOs have carefully recorded patterns of repression, unlawful detention, torture, and sexual violence tied to Venezuelan authorities and security forces, assessments that in some cases have been deemed crimes against humanity.
“Hunger” and the unfolding humanitarian emergency
The humanitarian situation includes severe needs in food and basic services. For example, the World Food Programme (WFP) notes that food insecurity remains critical and that millions require assistance, and the humanitarian system (OCHA/Global Humanitarian Overview) estimates that millions of people inside the country need humanitarian aid, with priority needs including food security and health, among others.
If an influential international figure such as José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero acts as a mediator and avoids public condemnations, he may contribute to normalizing the government and reducing the international cost of repression (or giving it diplomatic “oxygen”). In addition, the Venezuelan opposition and other actors have historically argued that certain dialogues can serve the government as a delaying tactic or as image management without real change.
