Tellado points to the Council of Ministers for the investigation against Zapatero and accuses the Government of being a "threat to democracy"

The general secretary of the PP, Miguel Tellado, has hardened his criticism of the Government this Thursday following the judicial investigation into the rescue of Plus Ultra and has focused on the alleged scope of the alleged influence peddling attributed to former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The popular leader has suggested that the investigation should not only focus on the former socialist leader, but also on who could have been the recipients of that alleged influence within the Executive.

During an intervention on La mirada crítica on 'Telecinco', Tellado pointed out that "all those who sit on the Council of Ministers" could be affected by the investigation, considering that "the question is on whom that influence was exerted". In that sense, he questioned whether the efforts pointed towards ministers such as Félix Bolaños, María Jesús Montero or José Luis Ábalos, or even "directly, towards Pedro Sánchez".

The number two of the PP has recalled that Zapatero is the first former President of the Government indicted in a judicial case and has highlighted that it has been "his front man, his collaborator and his straw man" who, he has stated, has placed him at the center of the alleged influence peddling investigated by the Audiencia Nacional.

Based on this case, Tellado has accused the Executive of having "broken the institutional seams of our country" and of representing "a threat to democracy itself". In his opinion, the Government maintains an attitude of confrontation with other powers of the State by, he has said, attacking the judiciary, the legislative and the Security Forces and Corps.

The popular leader has also defended the proposals for "democratic regeneration" announced by the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, with the aim of strengthening the separation of powers and the independence of institutions. In his opinion, the events of the current legislature show the need to introduce reforms to avoid similar situations in the future.

Tellado has also reiterated that the PP would promote a motion of no confidence if the Government's parliamentary partners withdraw their support for Pedro Sánchez. "There is no lack of reasons and no lack of desire, what we lack are votes," he affirmed, insisting that his objective would be to call general elections and "give the floor back to the Spanish people."

This Thursday all eyes are on the interview that former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will grant on the TVE program, Mañaneros 360. The conversation with journalist Javier Ruiz comes after the case has taken a turn in recent days, following the statements to the judge by his old friend Julio Martínez Martínez, known as 'Julito', and by two officials of the airline company, who attributed to him a relevant role in the negotiations that preceded the granting of public aid worth 53 million euros.