The PP has blamed the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, for knowing and covering up the alleged corruption that implicates former Minister of Transport, José Luis Ábalos, after reports on Sunday that the former socialist organization secretary rented a luxury villa from a company connected to the alleged fixer Víctor de Aldama, linked to the Koldo corruption scandal, and did not pay any monthly installments except for the first. Ábalos stated that he did indeed rent the property, located in Campo de Gibraltar, but was unaware of who the owner was and that the contract was legal. The spokesperson for the PP in the Congress, Miguel Tellado, stated on social media that “Nobody can believe that Sánchez was not aware of all the corruption surrounding his government. He knew and covered it up,” while PP leader Elías Bendodo pointed out that “Ábalos’ free villa is a shameful chapter of #LaTrama”.
The PP spokesperson, Borja Sémper, highlighted the connection between Ábalos’ “casoplón” and De Aldama. Sémper emphasized that when the information from the 23 phones Koldo had in his home is revealed, they will question and press Sánchez when he has to testify in the Senate investigation committee, where he cannot divert attention. Following the accusations from the PP, the PSOE defended that they had already taken measures against the former Minister and former organization secretary when questioned about the recent information, emphasizing that he currently holds no organizational or institutional position within the party. PSOE spokesperson, Esther Peña, avoided making a judgment by stating that it is “a specific situation that affects a particular individual,” as she mentioned in a press conference from the PSOE federal headquarters.
The former Minister maintains, in a conversation with EL PAÍS, that there is nothing unusual, let alone illegal, about the rental of the villa. Ábalos claims that he thought of a second residence, especially for summer for his family, and therefore asked his advisor Koldo García to find a villa in that area. He insists that he did not know who it belonged to, or if it had any relation with De Aldama, and that he simply formalized a contract that included payment of two months in advance as a security deposit and one month’s rent at market price, without any favors. The villa was scarcely used during the five months it was rented because it turned out to be much worse than expected and was located far from the beach. Ábalos’ economic situation changed radically 10 days after renting the villa when he was dismissed as a minister and began his divorce process, forcing him to leave the ministerial flat where he lived. Following a disagreement, they agreed that he would not pay more than the three months already paid, and the contract was canceled.
Some time later, the Tax Agency, which is investigating the company owning the villa, asked Ábalos about the contract and the former Minister claims to have provided all documentation, including proof of payment for the three months, which should be in their records. Ábalos insists that everything is in order as there was a contract, payment, and an agreement to terminate it after a discussion, with no favoritism involved. He complains of feeling defenseless as he is not under investigation and there is no case against him, despite collateral issues emerging in the case which he claims are unrelated to the mask case being investigated. Ábalos maintains that he has never received any commission or favoritism and therefore refuses to resign from his seat, a decision that has led him to the Mixed Group and a temporary suspension of membership in the PSOE.
Following the Koldo case, the PSOE suspended Ábalos’ membership due to “political responsibility,” as Koldo García, one of the main suspects, was Ábalos’ advisor during his time as Minister of Transport. The PSOE emphasizes that Ábalos does not hold any organizational responsibility in the party and is not part of the membership, allowing him to comment on the recent information. The PP accuses the PSOE of being lenient on corruption, both in the organizational aspect by keeping Ábalos on the lists, and in the judicial aspect, citing the Constitutional Court’s partial ruling on the ERE case as a disguised pardon issued by Sánchez’s allies who amnesty crimes if the perpetrator is a socialist member. The date for the President’s appearance in the Senate remains pending, with the PP eager to set it when most advantageous, given their majority in the upper chamber.
