Gertrudis and José Luis

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has a real secretary. Her name is Gertrudis Alcázar. She is not a fake secretary, like those some writers invent to avoid unpaid activities. For example, let me tell you that Mrs. Àfrica Witacker Casaldàliga, who you won't deny has an authentic name, has recently done a service to the cause: she has kindly refused to participate in a "different" interview, up on La Mola, and of an intimate nature. It was not paid, but up there they gave you artisan cheese from the sponsor's brand. Àfrica has written that Mrs. X would have been very excited, because money doesn't matter to her, she really likes that sponsor's so-called "artisan" cheese and it would be good for her to spend a morning going up and down mountains, which is good for health, but unfortunately she has to go to a book club on those dates.

The investigation by the National Court has allowed access to the conversations that José Luis and Gertrudis had on WhatsApp between 2025 and 2026. Thus we know that on the day of her indictment she asked him: "Do I cancel the run?" "Yes, of course", said Zapatero.

I think it's wonderful that Gertrudis carries an agenda for him where the noted activity is going for a run. I understand that if he goes, the bodyguards go too, but I think something like that, with Google calendar you're already set. You don't write down "Go for a run". However, it's clear that Gertrudis is a woman who acts like a mother to him. She asks him if she should cancel the run, which is quite tender, because she doubts what to do. She doesn't say: "I'm canceling your running, president". Gertrudis doesn't give orders to Zapatero but, even when he is indicted, she asks him if he will go for a run. He, however, tells her no. And that "of course" from Zapatero is devastating.