Zapatero’s Daughters and ‘El Server’: A Shadowy Video Game Venture in Venezuela
A Venezuelan video game platform, ‘El Server,’ linked to the daughters of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, operated with a striking lack of transparency, registered in Panama, and managed from the Dominican Republic – a structure that has drawn scrutiny from authorities amid broader investigations into potential financial improprieties. The platform’s sudden disappearance from the internet following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd, 2026, has only deepened the mystery surrounding the business dealings of Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa.
The venture, initially revealed by The Objective in 2025, involved a partnership between Zapatero’s daughters and the ‘El Server’ portal, focused on promoting esports – professional video game competitions – within Venezuela. The alliance became visible when the communication agency founded by the sisters, ‘Whathefav,’ advertised job openings for content creators to work on the Venezuelan platform. Though the website has been offline for over 20 days, the company maintains a presence on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Discord, and YouTube, boasting a combined following of over 20,000 and 535,000 likes. However, content publication ceased for a week following Maduro’s arrest by the US military.
A Divided Operation: Venezuela and the Dominican Republic
Sources close to the National Telecommunications Commission of Venezuela (CONATEL) confirmed to ABC that while ‘El Server’s’ commercial activity centered on Venezuela, its digital infrastructure was strategically managed from the Dominican Republic. The platform contracted a Dominican “webmaster,” known only as OR, to handle the development, maintenance, operation, and security of the internet platform. “OR’s profile is very well known” within the Caribbean State’s digital infrastructure management sector, according to one source in the IT sector. This individual further confirmed that OR’s resume aligns with his stated experience in web management, optimization, and design.
This division of labor, coupled with the platform’s registration in Panama on April 12, 2023 – rather than Venezuela – raises significant questions about the intent behind the company’s structure. A source with access to the Panamanian Public Registry revealed that the company’s physical address within the country is not publicly available, suggesting a “remote” business activity where employees operate outside of a traditional office setting. This assessment was corroborated by a source close to Venezuela’s Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries (SAREN), who confirmed that ‘El Server’ has no registered physical office in Caracas and does not appear in official national records.
Connections to Maduro and a Spanish Political Controversy
The timing of ‘El Server’s’ registration in Panama coincides with a meeting between Zapatero and Maduro three months prior, on January 20, 2023. At the Caracas meeting, the former Spanish Prime Minister and the then-President of Venezuela discussed potential rapprochement between the Chavista government and the opposition, aiming to facilitate an election scenario. While elections did occur in July 2024, Maduro rejected the results, leading to the arrest of opposition members and the exile of others to countries like Spain.
The opacity surrounding ‘El Server’ takes on further significance given ongoing investigations into Zapatero’s connections to the Chavista regime. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police are currently investigating whether Zapatero’s consulting work for an advisor to the Venezuelan airline Plus Ultra is linked to public aid granted to the airline by the Spanish government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attempts to contact OR, the Dominican webmaster, regarding the platform’s status after Maduro’s arrest were unsuccessful. After a brief conversation, OR abruptly ended the exchange when questioned about his role in ‘El Server.’ Similarly, individuals featured in videos published by ‘El Server’ on social media declined to comment on their employment status or the company.
The lack of transparency extends to the ownership of ‘El Server,’ which is registered in a tax haven and operates across multiple Ibero-American jurisdictions where data and financial asset information are not readily shared internationally. This complex structure, combined with the platform’s sudden disappearance and the political context surrounding Maduro’s arrest, underscores the need for further investigation into the business activities of Zapatero’s daughters in Venezuela.
Here is a recent post from ‘El Server’ on X/Twitter: Don’t know what to play with your friends?Well then, stay tuned for this new game called Peak, which will offer you one of the most exciting adventures to have with your friends.@Krozth shares all the details of this trip climbing an imposing mountain. https://twitter.com/elserver_gg/status/1676319898888998912
The situation highlights a growing concern about the use of offshore structures and opaque business dealings to obscure financial connections and potentially facilitate illicit activities, particularly within the politically volatile landscape of Venezuela.
