The president of SEPI and the director of the economic office in Moncloa appeared Tuesday before the Joint National Security Commission to explain changes at Indra and loans to Plus Ultra and Air Europa.
Belén Gualda stated that support for the airlines consisted of loans with strict conditions rather than rescues. She said the files were reviewed a thousand times by audits and courts and that the program saved 62,000 jobs. Manuel de la Rocha denied requesting Ángel Escribano’s resignation at Indra and rejected any contact with Leire Díez. He declared that any possible merger with EM&E is up to the company and that the government does not interfere in its decisions. PP deputies Rafael Hernando and José Vicente Marí accused the witnesses of corruption and linked them to Leire Díez’s agenda. De la Rocha replied that he has 30 years of career and has never taken part in meetings outside the law. Gualda and de la Rocha noted that 400 airlines were rescued in developed countries during the pandemic and defended controls on foreign investments.
