Spain’s Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has expressed his complete satisfaction with the outcome of an investigation conducted by the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO). The review found no evidence of any wrongdoing by Torres in connection with a major contract for the supply of masks at the height of the 2020 pandemic. The deal with Soluciones de Gestión, a company linked to businessman Víctor de Aldama, was valued at more than 12 million euros.
Torres stressed that over the past two years, he has been the target of numerous attacks and rumors that, according to him, were not substantiated by the investigation. He specifically pointed out that his contacts with Aldama were limited to a brief meeting and a single message via messenger in the summer of 2020. According to investigators, the correspondence showed no signs of close communication or any agreements that could have influenced the outcome of the deal.
The UCO report includes a message sent by Aldama to Torres on July 16, 2020, in which the businessman referred to a recent meeting and proposed discussing the supply of antigen tests. However, as the minister noted, their contact ended there—Torres did not respond, and his number was not saved in Aldama’s contacts. According to the minister, all other claims about alleged close ties between them do not correspond to reality.
Response to allegations and new lawsuits
Torres intends to sue Aldama for invasion of privacy and spreading false information, which he claims has caused irreparable damage to his reputation. Specifically, this concerns Aldama’s allegations about allegedly renting an apartment on Calle Atocha in Madrid for questionable meetings involving Torres, former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, and others. The minister presented flight tickets and airline certificates proving he was not in the capital on the specified dates.
The investigation also revealed that concerns some officials in the Canary Islands government had over the cost of the purchased masks were never reported to Torres. The minister explained that in the first months of the pandemic, regional authorities faced a severe shortage of personal protective equipment, and market prices were constantly shifting. He said he became involved in resolving the issue only several months after the contract was signed, when problems with payment for the delivered goods arose.
Contract details and the court’s position
According to the terms of the agreement, the Canary Islands government paid part of the sum in advance, with the remainder to be paid upon receipt of the goods. At one point, a payment of €7.5 million from the total amount was suspended, and this issue was discussed between Torres and other parties involved. The minister insists that his actions were prompted by the need to fulfill contractual obligations to the supplier, not by any personal interest.
Unlike other suspects in the case, Torres was not prosecuted. The Spanish Supreme Court concluded its investigation into the mask procurement case, sending those of Ábalos, Aldama, and Koldo García to court, but raised no charges against the former head of the Canary Islands. According to the minister, all accusations against him proved to be unfounded.
Thus, after the publication of the UCO report, Torres hopes to restore his business reputation and seek legal accountability for those who, in his view, tried to tarnish his name.
