Alberto Núñez Feijóo reacted harshly this Thursday to the interview of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on 'Mañaneros 360'. The leader of the PP has assured that the former president "today has more problems than yesterday" and that his explanations have further reduced the credibility that citizens grant him.
Feijóo spoke in the corridors of Congress a few hours after Zapatero denied any influence on the Government or SEPI to facilitate the rescue of Plus Ultra. He also explained that the jewels found in his office came from a personal gift and defended the professional activity of his daughters.
"After the interview, in which he answered nothing, it seems to me that Mr. Zapatero today has more problems than yesterday," said the popular president. His response has turned the former president's television appearance into another front of the PP's offensive against Pedro Sánchez.
"Sánchez is in Zapatero's hands"
Feijóo has maintained that the current Prime Minister has used Zapatero to buy time and divert attention from the problems surrounding the PSOE. "Sánchez is in Zapatero's hands and Zapatero is in Julio Martínez's hands," he declared in reference to 'Julito', also investigated in the 'Plus Ultra case'.
According to his interpretation, Zapatero went to TVE following Sánchez's instructions and with the intention of presenting the entire investigation as an injustice. The popular leader has not provided evidence of this alleged coordination between the two leaders.
Feijóo has also described the conversation as a "pact interview". The presenter Javier Ruiz had already denied before its broadcast that the questions had been agreed with Zapatero or that the Government had exerted pressure on the program.
Ester Muñoz has maintained a similar line from the parliamentary spokesperson of the PP. She has described the interview as a "mockery" and has accused Zapatero of going to public television to defend both his innocence and Sánchez's.
The popular leader has also insisted that those responsible for Plus Ultra hired the services of Zapatero's circle for their capacity for political dialogue. The Audiencia Nacional still has to establish what steps were taken, who could have received them, and whether they influenced the file in any way.
The clash over the presumption of innocence
During the interview, Zapatero addressed Feijóo directly after the PP leader stated yesterday that "without Sánchez, Zapatero would not have been able to commit crimes." The former president reminded him that no one can be considered guilty before a final sentence and demanded respect for the guarantees of the rule of law.
Feijóo responded that he "absolutely" respects his presumption of innocence and that it is up to the judges to determine his penal situation. He then placed the conflict on the political level and stated that Zapatero's position "is unacceptable."
The popular leader again took for granted that Zapatero and his daughters have collected commissions linked to Plus Ultra. These payments are part of the investigation, but there is still no sentence that qualifies them as illegal commissions or attributes an illicit intervention in the rescue to the former president.
He also questioned that jewels initially valued at 1.3 million euros could lack patrimonial interest. Zapatero assured that it was a gift received years ago, disputed the valuation included in the case, and reserved for the judge the identity of who gave it to him.
Feijóo also stated that the former president "has not even defended his daughters." During the conversation with Javier Ruiz, however, Zapatero rejected that Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa were used as straw persons and announced that they will present the contracts and work carried out by What The Fav.
The Audiencia Nacional will have to contrast this documentation with the economic movements incorporated into the case and with the new versions offered by 'Julito' and the directors of Plus Ultra. The PP will meanwhile maintain pressure to link the investigated dealings with a member of the Government, although so far none of the declarants has identified the supposed recipient of that influence.
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