Two reports from the Economic and Financial Crime Unit included in the case file contain WhatsApp conversations among Plus Ultra executives that mention meetings with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero during the processing of the 53 million euro rescue.
The UDEF reports include a message sent on 14 October 2020 by Plus Ultra president Julio Martínez Sola to shareholder Rodolfo Reyes. In it he states: “I’m with the Zapateros and the Chinese. we’ll see (sic)”. Reyes replied with “good luck”.
The report notes that days later, on 19 October 2020, SEPI sent the airline a request for additional clarification. It also mentions another conversation from February 2021 in which Reyes claims Zapatero told Camilo Ibrahim Issa that the rescue processing was “smooth sailing”.
The Audiencia Nacional investigation identifies the public loan approved by the Council of Ministers in March 2021 as the central episode. Zapatero has denied any link to the airline in his Senate appearance.
