The former Prime Minister played a decisive role in the turbulent life of the company Plus Ultra, according to the UDEF in the new reports released today. The documents, accessed by La Vanguardia, describe, for example, the crucial role of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in persuading a shareholder who did not accept the viability plan without which the Spanish government’s aid would never have arrived or, in another case, report the former president’s influence in obtaining flight permits from the Venezuelan Government for the company.
The report cites, based on the phone interception of Roberto Reyes, that Zapatero allegedly mediated to persuade one of Plus Ultra’s shareholders to approve the company’s viability plan without which it would not have been possible to obtain the aid. According to the report, Antonio Caldeiro, sole administrator of Alva Skies and Wings SL, which owned almost 10% of Plus Ultra’s shares, refused to sign the viability plan. Plus Ultra’s executives tried to persuade him but, after failing, they sought the help of “José Luís” – whom the UDEF report identifies as the former president – to convince him, a task he succeeded in so that this unruly partner of the company finally accepted the plan. On March 12, 2021, the financing contracts for the rescue of Plus Ultra were signed with Caldeiro present at the notary.
Influence over Delcy Rodríguez to obtain six flight permits
On the other hand, and according to the same UDEF report, Zapatero also collaborated so that Plus Ultra obtained flight authorizations in Venezuela where the company had been banned. In this regard, they point out that Plus Ultra obtained at least the right to six flights without the express authorization of the Venezuelan aviation authority but with a direct order from the Vice President of the Venezuelan Government, Delcy Rodríguez, who supposedly received a request from the former Spanish Prime Minister to authorize them, a favor that members of the company would later boast about.
Read more The plot of Plus Ultra: “the prosecutor is a friend, it must be stopped”
