Julio Martínez said to the Audiencia Nacional that former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was involved in the rescue of Plus Ultra airline [1].
The testimony contradicts Zapatero's public assertions that he had no contact with public sector officials regarding the airline's financial rescue. This discrepancy places the former leader at the center of a judicial investigation into the use of public policy for private corporate interests [1, 3].
Martínez, a businessman and close friend of Zapatero, provided his statement on the Tuesday preceding July 17 [1]. He was summoned to appear before the judge on July 21 [2]. The investigation focuses on the financial rescue of the airline and whether Zapatero influenced official decisions [3].
Zapatero has denied any role in the matter. In a podcast recorded on July 17, he said, "No hablé con absolutamente nadie del sector público sobre el rescate de Plus Ultra y no habrá nadie que pueda decir lo contrario" [1].
The legal pressure on the former prime minister has intensified recently. Spanish tax authorities opened a fiscal inspection into Zapatero, his wife, and his daughters in June [4]. This probe covers income tax, wealth tax, and taxes on large fortunes [4].
Additional scrutiny follows a secret meeting between Zapatero and Martínez at El Pardo [1]. Reports indicate that 72 hours passed between that meeting and Zapatero's subsequent detention [5]. Zapatero later described the revelation of the meeting via a photograph in the publication El Debate as a shock, saying, "Aún no me lo creo... Es como un infarto" [5].
There are conflicting reports regarding Zapatero's cooperation with the court. Some sources said he has not yet requested to testify [5], while other reports indicate he mentioned on June 17 that he would request a court appearance within one to 10 days [1].
“"No hablé con absolutamente nadie del sector público sobre el rescate de Plus Ultra"”
The contradiction between Martínez's judicial testimony and Zapatero's public statements creates a significant legal vulnerability for the former prime minister. If the court finds that Zapatero exerted influence over public funds or policy for the benefit of Plus Ultra, he could face charges related to official misconduct or corruption, compounding the pressure from the ongoing tax inspections launched in June.
