Víctor de Aldama, a well-known intermediary, is once again in the spotlight following another interrogation at the National Court (Audiencia Nacional). This time, he was summoned to testify regarding the procurement of masks linked to the Canary Islands government during the height of the pandemic. Leaving the courthouse, Aldama did not hide his opinion: according to him, former Canary Islands president and current minister Ángel Víctor Torres should seriously reconsider his position.
The questioning was conducted by Judge Ismael Moreno. Aldama stated that in the summer of 2020, he met with Torres at the Jai Alai restaurant. During this meeting, he said, they discussed the supply of medical products — masks and COVID-19 tests. Aldama emphasized that the conversation focused specifically on these issues, hinting at Torres’ possible involvement in questionable deals.
According to government sources, Torres maintains that the dinner in the restaurant was indeed planned, but never took place. Nevertheless, Aldama insists otherwise, assuring that the meeting did occur.
A shift in defense strategy and admissions
In November 2024, Víctor de Aldama unexpectedly changed his defense strategy. After being placed in pretrial detention for another case involving fraud in the oil sector, he admitted for the first time to his involvement in irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the pandemic. His testimony led investigators to higher-profile suspects, including former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos.
On the same day that Aldama testified, the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) was considering whether to remand Ábalos in custody until trial. The prosecution is seeking a 24-year prison sentence, while the accusation is pushing for 30 years. Ábalos is accused of involvement in procurement schemes and receiving substantial bribes.
Investigation expands: new suspects and directions
The probe into the procurement of masks and other medical supplies is ongoing and has already been split into several separate lines of investigation. The Supreme Court is also examining possible bribe-taking for the allocation of government contracts. Those under suspicion include not only Ábalos, but also his former adviser Koldo García, politician Santos Cerdán, and a number of businesspeople, among them former top executives of the major company Acciona.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues into other cases involving the allocation of public funds and possible corruption schemes. Investigators are examining contract details, correspondence, and financial flows to determine who made the decisions and who benefited from questionable deals.
Reactions from those involved and future outlook
After the interrogation, Aldama stated that he had answered all the questions asked by the judge, prosecutors, lawyers, and representatives of other parties. He emphasized that he did not avoid discussing any topic related to the investigation. Meanwhile, government representatives maintain their innocence and claim that many of the meetings and discussions mentioned by Aldama never took place.
The case involving mask procurement during the pandemic remains one of the most high-profile corruption scandals in Spain in recent years. Investigators promise more twists, and those involved in the case hint at further revelations. More interrogations and possibly new arrests are expected in the coming months.
