Manuel Rico defends that "Zapatero has been clear and forceful" in 'Mañaneros 360' about Plus Ultra, but observes "two points of greater weakness"

Journalist Manuel Rico analyzed in 'Mañaneros 360' the interview granted by former Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and differentiated between the issues that, in his opinion, were sufficiently answered and those about which he believes there are still unknowns.

During his intervention, Rico defended that, for the moment, there is no evidence to support the accusations against Zapatero for alleged influence peddling related to the rescue of Plus Ultra. The journalist recalled that the former president has been accused of having mediated in favor of the airline, but stressed that these claims currently lack evidentiary support.

"Those proofs must be put on the table," said Rico, who insisted that they do not appear reflected in the indictment order nor have they been provided to date. In that sense, he considered that Zapatero was "clear and forceful" in denying any participation in the rescue operation.

Next, the journalist rejected the hypothesis that there was an offshore company in Dubai intended to channel the collection of alleged commissions. As he explained, that company has not been accredited and, furthermore, the Plus Ultra officials themselves have assured that payments were made through companies based in Spain, a fact that, in his opinion, detracts from that line of investigation.

After evaluating these aspects, Rico went on to point out the points where he believes the former president's explanations were insufficient. First, he maintained that Zapatero did not clarify the origin of some jewels he was asked about during the interview. "As journalists, we have to confirm that he has not done so," he stated.

At that moment, 'Mañaneros 360' interrupted its analysis to connect live with the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who was appearing before the media. Once that intervention concluded, the program returned to the set and Manuel Rico resumed his analysis.

It was then that he focused on the income that, as he explained, the company of the former president's daughters, What a Fab, received from Inteligencia Prospectiva. For Rico, this has been "from minute one" the most delicate aspect of the investigation, which is why he regretted that Zapatero also did not offer a direct explanation about that economic relationship.

The journalist explained that the former president chose to postpone that answer and indicated that the company itself What a Fab will be responsible for offering the appropriate clarifications, a decision he considered understandable from a procedural point of view. However, he insisted that journalistic work consists of analyzing which questions received answers and which remain unresolved.

Rico's intervention definitively concluded when the program moved on to a new round of political reactions from the Congress of Deputies, including statements by the PP spokesperson, Ester Muñoz.