Aagesen tells Senate committee she never faced pressure over pandemic rescue loans to Air Europa, Tubos Reunidos
Spanish Vice President Sara Aagesen told a Senate investigative committee on Wednesday that she never received any pressure or indications from the government or political parties regarding the approval of pandemic-era rescue loans to companies including Air Europa and Tubos Reunidos.
Denial of pressure
Sara Aagesen, Spain's third vice president and minister for ecological transition, appeared before the Senate's SEPI investigative committee on 8 July 2026. She served as a member of the managing council of the Fund for the Support of Strategic Companies' Solvency during the pandemic, when she was secretary of state for energy. Aagesen categorically rejected any suggestion of outside influence on her votes.
Never, never, in any file, did I receive pressure to cast any vote.
She was asked specifically whether she had been contacted by the central government, the Basque government, or the PSOE regarding the rescue of Tubos Reunidos, and by the transport ministry or Globalia in the case of Air Europa. Her answer was a repeated "never".
Vox's environmental critique
In an unusual turn, Vox senator Paloma Gómez challenged Aagesen over the rescue of a "polluting" industry, the Basque steelmaker Tubos Reunidos. Aagesen replied that one condition for the €112 million loan was a commitment to reduce emissions and decarbonise. The exchange lasted nearly 40 minutes, with Vox, a party that denies climate change, adopting an environmentalist stance.
PP's questioning
Popular Party senator José Manuel Hernando adopted a milder tone but pressed Aagesen on whether she had taken the votes seriously. She insisted that all technical reports were favourable and that the 13 established criteria were rigorously met. Aagesen also noted she was not present at the session discussing the Tubos Reunidos loan and had delegated her vote to the undersecretary of the ecological transition ministry.
I have a very clear conscience.
When asked if she knew of former minister José Luis Ábalos's alleged interest in the Air Europa operation, she said she was unaware and had never been contacted by anyone from Ábalos's circle.
Junts criticises the process
Junts senator Teresa Pallarès deplored that the hearing had become a "trial with predetermined sentences", offering a rare note of sympathy for the vice president amid the opposition's accusations.
Loan conditions and audits
Aagesen stressed that all operations had been endorsed by the Court of Auditors and that the fund did not grant subsidies; the companies were required to repay the money received. She said the government and all council members took the fund's work seriously.
