The Spanish judiciary is intensifying actions in the so-called Koldo scandal, concerning irregularities in the purchase of masks during the pandemic. A key thread has become the role of Isabel Pardo de Vera and the controversial financing of the airline Plus Ultra. Simultaneously, the opposition People's Party has called Vice President María Jesús Montero before a Senate investigative committee, seeking to clarify the government's connections to the corruption network.

Hearing of María Jesús Montero

The People's Party has summoned the Vice President to provide explanations regarding the role of the SEPI holding in the corruption scandal.

Pardo de Vera Under UCO Scrutiny

Investigators are examining the role of the former head of Adif in facilitating commercial contacts for the Koldo García network.

Plus Ultra Case in Audiencia Nacional

The judge transferred the investigation concerning the airline to a higher instance due to the new scale of the investigation.

Housing Scandal in Alicante

Authorities in Sant Joan d'Alacant detected irregularities in the sale of protected housing by private companies.

The investigation into the corruption network known as the "Koldo scandal" is gaining momentum, revealing increasingly broad connections between state officials and private intermediaries. The central figure in recent days has been Isabel Pardo de Vera. According to reports from the UCO, this official allegedly facilitated business contacts for key members of the criminal group, including helping to procure medical equipment from Chinese contractors linked to former Prime Minister Zapatero. Although investigators do not attribute direct personal gain to her, her involvement in the contract award process is being examined for abuse of authority. The political situation is exacerbated by the People's Party's decision to summon María Jesús Montero to provide explanations before a Senate committee. The focus is on the activities of the holding company SEPI and the case of the loan to the airline Plus Ultra. The court decided to transfer this thread to the Audiencia Nacional due to its complex nature and possible connection to the broader scandal. In parallel, the court postponed the deadline for Víctor de Aldama to deliver documents that allegedly contain evidence of illegal financing of the ruling party. The Koldo scandal erupted in early 2024 when Koldo García, a close associate of former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, was arrested. The investigation concerns the acceptance of bribes in exchange for awarding contracts for the supply of medical materials during the state of epidemic emergency.Beyond the threads at the central level, law enforcement is investigating irregularities in Alicante, where there was an alleged illegal commercialization of protected housing. Local authorities and the UDEF are checking whether reservation fees were unjustly collected from potential tenants. The scale of the investigations shows systemic problems with the transparency of public procurement and the management of municipal property in various regions of Spain, which is becoming a main point of political dispute between the government and the opposition. „Es una barbaridad” (It's an outrage) — Carlos Herrera

Mentioned People

  • Isabel Pardo de Vera — Former Secretary of State for Infrastructure mentioned in the UCO report in the context of contacts with the Koldo group.
  • Víctor de Aldama — Entrepreneur currently in detention, a key intermediary in the corruption network.
  • María Jesús Montero — Vice President of Spain and Minister of Finance, summoned before a Senate committee.