Chronology of an alleged influence peddling: this is what the UDEF has against Zapatero

MadridThe Unit of Economic and Fiscal Crime (UDEF) of the National Police concludes, at the end of one of the leaked reports from the investigation into the public rescue of Plus Ultra and the alleged collection of commissions by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for having intervened, that there are "sufficient indications" against the former president of the Spanish government. It is 185 pages in which the UDEF analyzes the communications intercepted on computer terminals of businessmen linked to both the airline and the former socialist leader, as well as the movements of Zapatero's bank accounts — whom they consider the "leader" of the "organized network"— and his circle. But what exactly does the UDEF have against the former Spanish president to make this statement that has led to his indictment in the National High Court case?

The Zapatero route

The police report recounts how at the beginning of 2020, already in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, the directors of Plus Ultra were looking for financing routes due to their delicate economic situation. Faced with difficulties in obtaining it, they decided to try to take advantage of the influence of Spanish politicians and concluded that there were two possible avenues. That of Zapatero — which is the one that allegedly succeeded— and that of José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Transport. The contact to reach the former Spanish president is Julio Martínez Martínez, an entrepreneur, friend, and alleged "lieutenant" of Zapatero in the scheme. The contacts recorded in the report are mainly with Julio Martínez Martínez, although — in the exchange of messages between Julio Martínez Sola, a director of Plus Ultra, and Rodolfo Reyes, a shareholder of the company — a reference also appears to a call, which lasted eleven minutes, from Martínez Sola directly with the former Spanish president in the context of this search for help. "Zapatero is calling me," exclaimed the Plus Ultra director on April 29, 2020, joking about the need to change his profile picture to look more corporate.

First attempt via ICO

Before the rescue route through the fund enabled by SEPI, the State's investment arm, Plus Ultra made a failed attempt to obtain loans backed by the Official Credit Institute (ICO). One month after this call, Plus Ultra sent a letter to the vice-president of Banco Santander, Juan Manuel Cendoya, requesting "help" to obtain financing. In the letter, they assure that they are doing so "following the instructions of President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero".

The UDEF has detected that, around that time —the end of May 2020— Reyes and the economic director of Plus Ultra, Roberto Roselli, talk about the "Zapatero/Santander issue". "It seems to have moved hard. I think something might come of it," states Roselli, to which Reyes already warns him that they "get paid if it moves". At this point, the UDEF already points out that "the network led by Zapatero would obtain economic compensation".

Influence at SEPI

However, the actions that were allegedly worthy of these considerations are for having managed to get SEPI to grant Plus Ultra a bailout of 53 million euros. In a conversation on September 22, 2020, extracted by UDEF from Reyes' mobile phone, Martínez Sola informs him that he will meet Julio Martínez Martínez the next day to pressure him about the granting of aid. "What I want is for him or Zapatero to talk to SEPI and to get even verbally confirmed that they will grant us the aid with 100% certainty." The Council of Ministers approved the granting on March 9, 2021, after SEPI had endorsed it on March 2 of that month. UDEF concludes that Julio Martínez Martínez, Zapatero's man, had "privileged information" because on February 26 he already informed Reyes that the bailout would be granted to them and explained that he had been congratulated by SEPI for the "excellent work" done by the airline. It is not clear, however, which public office he would have pressured to obtain it.

The 1% commission

Three days before this communication, the UDEF detected in an email addressed to Julio Martínez Martínez a copy of a contract signed between Idella Consulenza Strategica, represented by this businessman linked to Zapatero, and Plus Ultra, which stipulates "as remuneration 1% plus VAT of the amount of the approved aid", which would amount to 530,000 euros. The contract was signed on January 19, 2021 and Julio Martínez Sola refers to it in a message to Julio Martínez Martínez, during the celebration on the day SEPI endorsed the rescue. "Don't worry, this comes from the 1%", says the Plus Ultra executive after sending him a photo of him eating seafood, regarding the percentage of the alleged commission.

The role of the secretary

It is here that the suspicion arises that this money would have been deposited abroad and where Zapatero's secretary, Gertrudis Alcázar, emerges in the UDEF report, which allows them to affirm that "necessarily the instructions must come" from the former president. The investigators have not found the trace of the payment to Idella Consulenza Strategica and are focusing on the creation of a company in the Middle East, called Landside Dubai, owned by Idella. The UDEF believes that Zapatero gave instructions to Julio Martínez Martínez to hold a meeting on January 26, 2021—of which the former president's secretary informs him by email—focused on establishing this shell company. These steps were taken a few days after signing the contract with Plus Ultra for the collection of the 1% commission.