'Julito' follows Aldama's wake: what does it imply for Zapatero?
Madrid"The rule of law must reward with the instruments provided for in the legislation those relevant behaviors that affect the discovery and accreditation of crimes of gravity for the democratic system." This fragment of the Supreme Court ruling that sentenced José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison was much more than a reduction of the penalty for Víctor Aldama for his collaboration with justice. It was a call to defendants who might find themselves in a similar situation to "sing La traviata"; to speak in favor of the investigation in exchange for the main prize.
A strategy that has worked, as it is what seems to be happening this Tuesday in the Plus Ultra case. The businessman and theoretical friend of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Julio Martínez Martínez, alias "Julito", has been summoned to testify before the National Court before Judge José Luis Calama, and has already offered full "collaboration with justice". This means he offers the incrimination of Zapatero. He did so this Monday in a document submitted to the judge, in which he corroborates all the indications gathered by the UDEF in their reports and which the former president has denied until now: he assures that it was Zapatero, even if he was not registered in the company, who directed the consultancy Análisis Relevante from the shadows; that it was he who obtained the Plus Ultra airline as a client; and that it was also the former president who "set the steps" to achieve the controversial public bailout of 53 million euros. In fact, he assures that it was Zapatero who told him that SEPI would approve the credit a few days before the council of ministers gave it the green light in 2021.
The document is a torpedo to Zapatero's defense line. First, because it contradicts the version according to which he made no arrangements with anyone from the public sector to obtain the millionaire bailout –"I did not speak with any political authority, with any civil servant, with any public worker about the Plus Ultra bailout," Zapatero told the judge—. Second, because it places him at the center of the business network that is under judicial suspicion and confirms that a 1% commission was agreed upon if the bailout was achieved. Third, because it greatly complicates Zapatero's judicial future: not only are there already messages from third parties incriminating him, but now a co-author of the investigated facts points him out as the "leader" of the scheme. And, finally: Julito not only implicates the former president with this statement, but also casts doubt on how the Plus Ultra bailout was decided by SEPI. In other words, it casts doubt on the Spanish government.
Julio Martínez's turn
Julio Martínez's position marks a shift in his defense line, as he had previously opted not to make public statements. It coincides with a change of lawyer: now it is Maria Dolores Márquez de Prado, who was a prosecutor for seventeen years at the National High Court. She replaced lawyer Bernardo del Rosal last May, which was already interpreted as a possible change in strategy by Julito. Two months later, everything indicates that the news is confirmed.
