Why does Zapatero reappear now?
MadridThis Thursday is a day for anniversaries. It has been exactly 26 years since José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was elected Secretary General of the PSOE. At that time, he could not have imagined that a quarter of a century later he would be sitting on the set of "Mañaneros" on TVE, giving explanations for two serious criminal cases: one for alleged influence peddling related to the Plus Ultra bailout and another for alleged smuggling of millionaire jewelry found in the safe of his office. Why has it appeared now? In fact, the explanations, according to what he himself had announced, should have come earlier. In his first video after being indicted, he announced that he would address the media, but in light of the information that was appearing regarding his businesses, he decided to appoint a spokesperson, Luis Arroyo, president of the Ateneo de Madrid.
Later, following the discovery of the jewelry in his office safe and the opening of a smuggling case, he also assured the judge that he would explain the origin in about ten days. A month later, however, he still has not done so and, this Thursday, he limited himself to saying it was a "courtesy gift." He states that the judge is the one who should find out where they come from first. We will see what he tells him when it is transferred and if there is tax evasion, considering that everything points to it being a millionaire gift that he did not declare to the Tax Agency. If it is true, however, that he can prove that it has been "many years," it is probably a statute-barred offense or administrative irregularity.
Thus, Zapatero's explanations come late, but they appear now because it was unsustainable to go on vacation without having made a statement. And even more so after his friend and alleged straw man, Julio Martínez Martínez, implicated him. It was also unsustainable for the Spanish government and the PSOE. Since the case broke, the socialist leadership has referred to the eventual explanations that the former Spanish president might give, maintaining at all times the defense of his presumption of innocence. To the point that, from Moncloa, they assure that they also do not have more details about the origin of the jewelry, but that they trust Zapatero's word.
PSOE sources this Thursday reaffirmed their support for the former president. They maintain, in this way, the same position from day one, which is that they support him despite the criminal indications. "President Zapatero has wanted to address the public to offer explanations and reaffirm his innocence," these sources report, for this reason, "we maintain our support for him." In fact, from Ferraz they present Zapatero as a victim due to the leaks of his case and because they are, they believe, a parallel trial that violates his defense rights: "His investigation has nothing to do with one with the guarantees proper to a state of law." However, there are also leaders who admit that the explanations fell short, especially regarding the jewelry.
An interview to protect Sánchez?
On the other end of the parliamentary spectrum, they have a completely different reading. The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, considers that what Zapatero is doing is defending Pedro Sánchez, since if the influence peddling in the Plus Ultra rescue is proven, it would also fully implicate the Spanish government. In fact, from the PP they consider that the interview has been a "rip-off" and for Santiago Abascal it has been an indecent use of public television to "launder" the former president. Ester Muñoz (PP) has taken it upon herself to recall that José Luis Ábalos also proclaimed his innocence.
Zapatero's explanations have not satisfied the right and have left many doubts in the air to the left of the PSOE –"a courtesy gift is a Christmas hamper", valued the spokesperson for ERC in Congress, Gabriel Rufián–, but it gives a respite to Pedro Sánchez's government after weeks of having to respond on behalf of the former president, even though from Moncloa they deny coordination. In fact, since the indictment on May 19, Elma Saiz, spokesperson for the Spanish government, has had to respond every Tuesday to questions about this case. It should also be taken into account, to assess the timing chosen by Zapatero, that next Tuesday, after the cabinet meeting, Sánchez will offer the traditional end-of-term press conference. It would be different to face this appearance with Zapatero still remaining silent. Three years after the campaign for the July 23 elections, in which the former president was key for the PSOE to rally and gather enough to govern again, Zapatero is once again coming to the rescue.