Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar has strongly condemned Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares after Albares linked Aznar's name to that of the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein during discussions in the Spanish Senate and Congress. This incident arose after documents associated with Epstein revealed a payment of $1,050 made to Aznar's name, prompting accusations of slander from Aznar's camp, which asserts that he has no connection to Epstein.

Aznar's foundation, Faes, has publicly stated that Albares is using parliamentary immunity to launch baseless insinuations that tarnish Aznar's reputation, with Aznar himself emphasizing that he has never met Epstein. The controversy flared up during a political debate where Albares aimed to deflect criticism towards former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero by mentioning Aznar's name, igniting a heated exchange about the involvement of previous government leaders with controversial entities like Huawei.

This ongoing dispute highlights the tense political atmosphere in Spain, where allegations regarding past leaders can have significant repercussions. The fallout from this incident may affect not only Aznar's reputation but also the standing of Albares and the current government as they navigate the fallout from such serious allegations, especially in a climate sensitive to issues of accountability and political integrity.