Zapatero denies before Supreme Court having received bribes over Plus Ultra
Spain's former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared before the Supreme Court denying accusations that he improperly influenced the airline Plus Ultra during its state rescue.
Zapatero denies before Supreme Court having received bribes over Plus Ultra
Spain's former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared before the Supreme Court on Wednesday to defend himself against accusations linking him to the airline Plus Ultra. During his statement, he rejected having exerted undue pressure to favour the company in the process of the state rescue it received.
According to people present in the courtroom, the former socialist leader assured the court that he never maintained contact with public officials or other competent authorities with the aim of altering the decision on public aid to Plus Ultra.
He also flatly denied having received illegal commissions and distanced himself from the business network which, according to judicial investigators, would have been controlled by his friend Julio Martínez and used to channel irregular payments.
In his defence, which lasted three hours, Zapatero maintained that funds transferred by companies involved in the case to his daughters' marketing firm, Whathefav SL, corresponded to actual services and not to criminal rewards.
After concluding his appearance, he issued a written statement in which he reiterated his position and expressed full confidence in his innocence. "When you know that you are absolutely innocent, as is the case with me, and you have full confidence in the Courts, the most painful thing is knowing that many people might be disappointed if they believe what is said about you," he stated.
He also clarified that he had no links with Plus Ultra executives, except with its president Julio Martínez Solá, whom he said he met in 2024, three years after the state aid to the airline was approved.
Following his statement, a separate hearing was held to examine possible precautionary measures. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, together with two of the popular accusations—the Popular Party and Ciudadanos—requested the withdrawal of the former president's passport and his mandatory appearance before the courts every fortnight.
For his part, the PP's lawyer, Alberto Durán, who represents the popular accusations jointly in these proceedings, also requested the imposition of provisional imprisonment for Zapatero. According to legal sources, this request also has the backing of other organisations and entities participating in the case, including Vox, Hazte Oír and Iustitia Europa.
Source: Philenews
Source: Philenews