One of the key dates of the plot occurred on July 16, 2020, when the President of the Government, Pedro SanchezFirst Vice-President and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Nadia Calvinoand the minister of transport, Jose Luis Abalos, they met to talk on the rescue of Air Europa. The day before, Aldama had sent a message to Javier Hidalgo, in which he took the agreement for granted: “Tomorrow, early in the morning, there will be the 1st, her, that of the Treasury and him and the decision has been made that it will happen, but tomorrow I will tell you, when I am with him, I will tell you.
Previously, Javier Hidalgo, CEO of Air Europa, had used Víctor Aldama in 2020when the airline was in economic crisis, to speed up the company’s eventual rescue. The Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard considers Aldama a key player in the plot: “Aldama used his relationship with Koldo and Ábalos to influence the final concession of Air Europa”he noted in a report.
From Moncloa they did not deny this meeting, but they insisted that the rescue of the airline was something obvious since it a strategic company. The PP seized on it to attack the government: “Sánchez is the number one of the gang, he was aware of everything”, said the Deputy Secretary for Autonomous and Local Coordination, Elías Bendodo.
However, the Executive denies any link: “They call him that one, of course, that means calling the President of the Government that one.” This has never happened in history. In any case, it must be a coded message,” replied Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
But this was not the only meeting that took place that afternoon in July 2020, two others took place. First of all, Begoña Gómez met Javier Hidalgoand later he found himself face to face with Ábalos and Aldama, who informed Koldo of the result: “The ‘boss’ just sent a message to Javi, that the minister told him he would be there the week next time it’s calmer. It seems everything helped.”
Finally, the rescue took place November 3 of that same year.
