The explanations offered this Thursday by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on ‘Mañaneros 360’ have not convinced Sumar. The minority partner of the Government has considered his answers insufficient regarding the ‘Plus Ultra case’ and has demanded that he clarify both the origin of the jewels found in his office and the payments received by his daughters' company.
Sources from the party have indicated that the former president has the right to defend his innocence, but have added that he "continues to disappoint" and that his intervention on TVE has not been up to the explanations expected by a part of the progressive electorate.
The deputy spokesperson for Sumar in Congress, Alberto Ibáñez, has assured that "many unknowns" remain open after the interview conducted by Javier Ruiz. The Compromís deputy has placed the debate beyond a possible criminal responsibility and has demanded answers from the point of view of public exemplary conduct.
The jewels and the work of What The Fav
Zapatero has denied during the interview having exerted any influence on the Government or SEPI to obtain the 53 million euro loan granted to Plus Ultra. He has assured that his role was limited to consulting work and facilitating contact between company officials and a Banco Santander executive.
He has also denied having used his daughters, Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, as straw persons. The former president has announced that both will present to the judge the contracts, assignments, and work carried out by their company, What The Fav, to prove that the amounts received corresponded to real services.
His answers have not cleared Sumar's doubts either. Ibáñez has questioned the amounts paid to the company and has warned that "earning 400,000 euros for laying out a document in this country should not be normal". The figure and the exact nature of the services are part of the facts being investigated by the Audiencia Nacional and must be proven within the procedure.
The deputy has also focused on the jewels valued by investigators at 1.3 million euros. Zapatero has explained that they came from a personal gift received years ago, although he has avoided publicly identifying the person who gave them to him and has reserved that explanation for the judge.
The former president has maintained that the pieces lacked use, purpose, or "patrimonial desire," has disputed the valuation, and has acknowledged that today he would have made a different decision regarding their acceptance. "The jewels have use and purpose and he will have to clarify what they are," Ibáñez replied from Congress.
Sumar distinguishes ethical doubts from criminal accusation
The formation has also introduced a relevant nuance. Ibáñez has acknowledged that none of the accusations has yet specified who would have received Zapatero's alleged influence within the Government or the Administration. Without an influenced person and a concrete action, central elements of the thesis being investigated by Judge José Luis Calama remain pending.
The former president insisted on that same question during his conversation with Javier Ruiz. He stated that he did not speak with any member of the Executive or with SEPI officials about the rescue and that those who claim otherwise must prove it.
Sumar maintains, despite this, that political analysis cannot be reduced to the criminal outcome. Before the interview, Enrique Santiago had already acknowledged this Thursday that suspicions of corruption related to socialist leaders harm the Government and all the forces that support the progressive majority.
The parliamentary spokesperson for Izquierda Unida has asked the PSOE for more forceful measures and greater anticipation in the face of any indication of irregularity. At the same time, he recalled that so far no objection has been accredited regarding the administrative procedure of the rescue and that the 53 million were granted through a loan that the airline must repay.
Verónica Martínez Barbero has also defended that those who have held the Presidency of the Government must maintain "morally irreproachable" conduct, regardless of whether or not a crime ultimately exists. Podemos has gone further and its general secretary, Ione Belarra, has stated that the former president's explanations no longer convey credibility to her.
The PSOE retains its support
The PSOE has reacted in a different direction. Ferraz reaffirmed this Thursday its support for Zapatero, defended his presumption of innocence, and valued that he has appeared publicly to respond to the accusations.
Patxi López has recalled that it is up to those who accuse to prove that the former president intervened in the rescue. The Government has also maintained its position and continues to separate the personal actions investigated by the Audiencia Nacional from the administrative file approved during the pandemic.
Zapatero has avoided directly confronting Julio Martínez, ‘Julito’, who on Tuesday ratified before the judge that the former president "set the steps to follow" in the work related to Plus Ultra. He has attributed this to his defense strategy and has insisted that he will only answer for his own actions.
The Audiencia Nacional will now have to contrast the explanations offered on TVE with the writings of ‘Julito’ and the Plus Ultra executives. Zapatero and his daughters have announced the delivery of contracts and works, while the judge keeps pending the decision on the next statements and proceedings of the case.
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