Corruption Investigation Widened and Scandals Rock Spanish Police

The political situation in Spain is becoming increasingly tense as new facts emerge in the so-called Koldo affair. A key turning point is the decision to transfer the investigation into the airline Plus Ultra to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's national court that handles cases of the highest national importance. The judge leading the proceedings so far ruled that the case has taken on a "new dimension" and is too complex to remain at the local level. This thread is directly linked to the activities of Koldo García, a former advisor at the transport ministry, who allegedly mediated business contacts, including with Chinese partners linked to former Prime Minister Zapatero. In parallel, the People's Party (PP) has intensified its actions in the Senate, using its majority in that chamber to summon key figures from the ruling camp. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister María Jesús Montero is set to appear before the investigative commission on SEPI. The opposition is demanding explanations regarding the ministry's role in granting rescue funds to companies linked to the corruption network. The situation is further complicated by the proceedings against Víctor de Aldama, a key intermediary in the affair, whose questioning and the submission of evidence concerning the financing of the PSOE party have been temporarily suspended by the investigating judge. The Koldo affair erupted in early 2024 and concerns irregularities in the purchase of protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic by Spanish public institutions.The second, equally shocking topic for public opinion is the leaked recordings concerning Commissioner Emilio de la Calle. The audio materials document the scandalous behavior of the senior officer towards a subordinate officer during a mission in India. They contain threats of physical aggression and insults, which the Ministry of the Interior described as "horrible." Ministry representatives reminded that the commissioner remains suspended from duty, but the case has sparked a broader debate about the effectiveness of internal protocols. Data indicates that in the last three years, the police have handled 26 cases of sexual harassment, but a significant portion of reports are rejected at the verification stage. „¿Qué hago, te pego? A ver si así con un ojo morado...” (What should I do, hit you? Let's see if with a black eye...) — Emilio de la Calle In the background of these events, reports are also emerging from Alicante, where authorities have detected irregularities in the trade of protected housing. The case has been taken up by the specialized police unit for economic crime (UDEF). The overall picture is completed by local political disputes in Móstoles, where a motion to condemn a mayor accused of harassment was rejected, showing that the problem of ethics and abuse of power affects various levels of the Spanish administration.