The El Confidencial news site reported the UCO’s deployment was authorized by the National Court and is linked to an unrelated investigation overseen by Spain’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor.
Spanish judicial authorities did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment.
Sánchez’s fragile minority government has been under heavy pressure since news of Zapatero’s indictment.
The regionalist parties that allowed his left-wing coalition to form a government in 2023, and which have been essential for getting legislation through parliament since then, have grown wary of being associated with the prime minister and his party, which has been battered by a steady stream of corruption scandals for the past year.
Aitor Esteban, head of the Basque Nationalist Party, on Sunday said Sánchez should call snap elections before the end of the year, arguing that it would be “very difficult” for the prime minister to remain in power until the current legislative term ends in August 2027.
“There are already nine open cases, now Zapatero,” he said. “It would be irresponsible to continue beyond 2026 without direction, without a budget, without a stable majority, and with an agenda that is out of control and plagued by court cases.”