The Government’s parliamentary partners are expressing increasing concern and alarm following the judicial indictment of former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for several alleged corruption offenses linked to the multimillion-euro economic bailout of the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic crisis. But, at least for now, the Executive does not see this parliamentary support at risk to keep afloat a legislature that Pedro Sánchez intends to complete within a year, by July 2027.
While waiting for the full content of the judicial case file against Zapatero to be revealed in the coming hours, and also for the former president himself to appear before the National Court on June 2, the order from Judge José Luis Calama notified last Tuesday “has no impact on the Government,” they maintain at Moncloa. They emphasize that there is no indication, in their view, that the Executive may have engaged in any irregularity or corruption. Neither in this case nor in the process opened against former minister José Luis Ábalos is there any evidence of alleged irregular financing of the PSOE, they argue.
The Executive challenges the opposition: “Whoever wants to present a motion of no confidence, let them present it”
And as long as there is no evidence of corruption in the Government or irregular financing in the PSOE, which they recall are the red lines set by parliamentary allies and coalition partners, Moncloa considers that they will maintain their position and support to keep the legislature on course. “In the order, we consider that there is no evidence that incriminates,” they insist on defending, neither Zapatero nor the Government. “No documentary evidence attests to influence peddling,” they reiterate. And, therefore, they assure that “there is nothing that affects the stability of the legislature.”
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At the same time, the Executive challenges the opposition: “Whoever wants to present a motion of no confidence, let them present it.” Despite pressure from the far-right Vox, the Popular Party still does not want to play this card which, if it fails, they believe would only serve to strengthen Pedro Sánchez.
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