A Spanish judge has rejected former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s request to postpone a hearing regarding a jewelry case. Zapatero’s defense team sought the delay following accusations from the investigating magistrate of two new crimes: smuggling and tax evasion, related to jewelry valued at 1.3 million euros. The judge determined that the new allegations did not constitute “new facts” warranting a postponement. Zapatero is now expected to testify as scheduled concerning the origin and declaration of the valuable jewelry. The case centers on whether proper taxes were paid and if the jewelry was legally imported. This denial moves the legal proceedings forward, potentially leading to a trial. The former Prime Minister maintains his innocence.