In October 2022, the Civil Guard organized an event to grant the businessman Victor de Aldama the Order of Merit, with a white badge, in recognition of their “deep values” and his “altruism” in favor of the interests of Spain. The ceremony, carried out in all solemnity in the official premises, included words of praise from the colonel Francisco Jose Vazquezsaid Pape, head of Special Central Unit 2 (UCE-2) of the Information Service. Even if, from now on, the government of Pedro Sánchez declares to be a member of the “Aunt”, In reference to Mortadelo and Filemón, reality shows that they played a key role in one of the most delicate units of the Armed Institute.
During the event, Vázquez emphasized that this distinction It was not a regular price.but a recognition of someone who “almost feels like a civil guard”. In his own words, Aldama – now investigated by the National Court– had provided selfless support to the anti-terrorist unit, covering needs that the force, despite its preparation, could not satisfy alone. The senior Benemérita official highlights that Aldama worked selflessly for Spain, risking his life to achieve information anti-terrorism of great value. The Civil Guard recognizes that people like Aldama are needed in this unit because they do not have the means that the Interior should provide them.
However, the figure of Aldama was question by the government after confessing before the National Court to a corruption plot involving several ministers and the organizational secretary of the PSOE, Santos Cerdán. According to his statements, he would have paid “quotas” for high government positions, including former minister José Luis Ábalos and the vice president’s chief of staff María Jesús Montero. These revelations led the Ministry of the Interior to analyze the possibility of a revoke the medal, even if we are waiting for a final conviction to take definitive measures.
Pedro Sánchez’s executive rejected Aldama’s accusations, calling them “invented“. The Minister of Digital Transformation, Óscar López, joked about the businessman, comparing him to “Little Nicholas”. However, a video that advances The world shows that until a few months ago, in fact, Aldama was a prestigious figure in the Interior for his work related to the fight against corruption. Among other efforts, Aldama purchased a state-of-the-art drone that Interior could not provide to agents. He also operated with ultra-secure and encrypted mobile phones, as he told the National Court, due to the sensitivity of the high-security cases he handled.
This award has attracted criticism from associations such as the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), which demanded guarantees so that these distinctions reflect irreproachable conduct. According to Aldama, his contributions included the purchase of a drone for the UCE-2 and activities with the Rapid Action Group (GAR), in addition to maintaining contacts with agencies such as the CIA and the FBI.
Replicas
This Monday, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, confirmed that his department is “I’m already studying the form» to revoke the medal of merit to Aldama. “From what we know, it is clear that is not worthy of a distinction that must honor both the one who receives it and the Civil Guard itself,” said Marlaska. However, avoid evaluating the reasons behind the initial award of the medal, arguing that each year between 1,500 and 2,000 of these distinctions on the proposal of the different units and commands of the corps. However, Interior sources indicated that the process could require wait for one last sentence in case Aldama is prosecuted and found guilty.
Government partners are repositioning themselves in the new scenario. Sumar’s spokesperson, Ernest Urtasun, defended that the president of the government, Pedro Sánchez, he has already given explanations the same day that the alleged “perpetrator” of the plot made serious accusations. The Minister of Culture also stressed during a press conference that they take “perfect care” of concern about corruption in Spain and the need for institutional reforms to prevent it. Furthermore, training sources confirm that information on the Koldo affair can behave some wear for the Executive. Urtasun emphasizes that this matter is under investigation and insists that Aldama’s serious accusations against the PSOE accusations should be try them in court.
For its part, Podemos warns the PSOE that it will be “relentlessly” if Aldama provides evidence. Spokesman Pablo Fernández explains that Pedro Sánchez has at least “responsibilities looking» regarding this plot, which involves serious signs of corruptionand demands that he provide explanations on this subject to Congress. He claims that Podemos knows how to distinguish “the wheat from the chaff”, given that the businessman attributed alleged crimes to active members of the PSOE without providing evidence.
For her part, the general secretary of the PP, Cuca Gamarra, indicated that the PSOE had made Aldama a “small character”, after having “decorated from the inside out.” From all this it results, for the PP, that “he was not a stranger“But he was a relative with whom they did business with the Spanish money.” “They believed that the defenestration of Ábalos would put an end to the plot and that it would act as a firewall, but every day there is more information,” emphasized Gamarra, who demanded that Sánchez “decide when he will leave ” that “a new story begins” with the PP in government.
