BREAKING: “I called them to see if I could help them”
Global Update:
International observers are closely monitoring the latest developments as new information continues to emerge.
He did so so that those responsible for the airline could be received by those responsible for the bank, although he denied having carried out any steps to obtain financing for the company. This is recorded in the audios of last Wednesday’s appearance before the judge of the National Court, to which this newspaper has had access. During the interrogation, his lawyer expressly asked him if he had in any way directed the request addressed to Santander or Juan Manuel Cendoya, vice president of the entity, with the aim of Plus Ultra obtaining financing. Zapatero’s response was forceful: “No, not at all.” The former head of the Executive explained that his intervention was limited to making a call to check if those responsible for the company could be assisted. When his lawyer insisted on asking him if that had been his only action, he responded: “Yes, exactly.”Rodríguez Zapatero also denied that any director or employee of Plus Ultra had requested help related to the Business Support Fund approved in July 2020. Likewise, he denied having held conversations with Indra officials to facilitate the airline’s submission of its application to the SEPI. “Neither before the SEPI, nor before any public employee, nor before any member of the Government, nor before absolutely anyone, I did not speak to anyone, with anyone from the rescue of Plus Ultra,” said Zapatero. Calama has agreed this Thursday to investigate Alba and Laura Rodríguez Espinosa, daughters of Zapatero, as well as his secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, within the Plus Ultra case. The three will be summoned to testify and will be able to exercise their right of defense in the case, opened by the alleged plot of influence peddling and money laundering. The decision comes at the request of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. According to the magistrate, there are indications that the company Whathefav, formally managed by Zapatero’s daughters, would have been used as an instrument to channel and provide coverage for economic operations under investigation. Calama considers that, given their possible involvement, they should testify as investigated and not as witnesses, to guarantee their right not to testify against themselves. Regarding Alcázar, the instructor points out her alleged role, along with Cristóbal Cano, administrator of Julio Martínez Martínez’s companies, in charge of coordination, preparation and formal coverage of the documentation managed by the network. Gertrudis “received direct instructions” to prepare allegedly false invoices that would cover the payments received and issued by the corporate network.
Key Developments:
This event is already generating discussion among political analysts and international organizations worldwide.
Observers believe further developments could significantly shape the direction of this story in the near future.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing international story.
Source: This article was originally published by El Español – Home and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.