What The Fav (formally, WHATHEFAV S.L.) is a communications and marketing firm managed by Laura and Alba Rodríguez Espinosa, daughters of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Business and social media outlets have portrayed it as an agency whose revenues and earnings have steadily risen in recent years, mirroring the trajectory of companies and individuals associated with scandals linked to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
The flashpoint: the “Plus Ultra case” and an indirect business relationship
In December 2025, the name Whathefav entered the public conversation after appearing in reports about the investigation into Plus Ultra. Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether the airline diverted part of the €53 million public bailout into operations that could amount to alleged money laundering, in proceedings led by a Madrid court, with parts of the investigation under secrecy.
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.
Recent reports from multiple outlets indicate that the company Whathefav/What The Fav has scaled back, or effectively pared down, its presence across social media in recent days. These sources mainly note the removal of its corporate account on X (Twitter), pointing to its apparent disappearance from that platform. On Instagram, the profile is said to remain accessible, though with a noticeably reduced number of posts, as part of its content appears to have been deleted. This development adds to ongoing concerns about the limited transparency surrounding José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and his daughters, Laura and Alba Rodríguez Espinosa. Media coverage has also underscored the significant rise in the Zapatero family’s assets in recent years, including the disclosure of several high-end 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 re-emerged strongly in the public conversation due to reports linking him to the Plus Ultra case environment (an airline rescued with €53 million). What major outlets have confirmed is the investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the use/destination of the bailout, with arrests and subsequent release under precautionary measures.
In parallel, some media outlets and political figures have called for clarification about José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s recent meetings or communications—held under highly unusual conditions—with people linked to the investigation just 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, media outlets such as El Confidencial noted that former ambassador Raúl Morodo, appointed during Zapatero’s presidency, was convicted on tax-related charges tied to income from his work for PDVSA, a development often referenced in debates about the historical Spain–Venezuela relationship.
In 2025, El Confidencial released articles describing an alleged lobby or think tank known as Gate Center and its ties to figures connected with China, portraying the situation as an issue of influence, funding, and limited transparency.
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
International bodies and NGOs have documented—meticulously—patterns of repression, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence attributable to Venezuelan authorities and security forces, and in some cases classified as crimes against humanity.
“Hunger” and the humanitarian crisis
The humanitarian situation reflects acute shortages in food and essential services, as highlighted by the World Food Programme (WFP), which reports that food insecurity remains severe and that millions rely on support, while the humanitarian system (OCHA/Global Humanitarian Overview) indicates that vast numbers within the country require aid, prioritizing areas such as food security, health, and other critical needs.
If an influential international figure like José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero steps in as mediator while refraining from public criticism, this approach could help legitimize the government and lessen the global repercussions of its repression, effectively offering diplomatic oxygen. Moreover, the Venezuelan opposition and other groups have long maintained that certain negotiation processes may be used by the government merely to buy time or polish its image without committing to genuine reforms.