Lawyer withdraws defense of businessman in Plus Ultra case due to conflict. Bernardo del Rosal has stepped down from defending Julio Martínez Martínez just two weeks before Zapatero’s questioning. The reason is disagreements over strategy. This could impact the course of the high-profile investigation.
An unexpected development has occurred in the case concerning the alleged corruption network surrounding former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero: the lawyer for businessman Julio Martínez Martínez, a key figure in the investigation, has withdrawn from defending his client. On June 6, it became known that professor of criminal law Bernardo del Rosal officially submitted his withdrawal from the case, citing “irreconcilable differences over defense strategy.”
The lawyer’s decision came only a week after the court brought charges against Zapatero himself. On June 17 and 18, the former Prime Minister is expected to testify before the National Court on charges of organizing an influence network, where Martínez Martínez is named as a central figure. According to EL PAÍS, del Rosal has notified Judge José Luis Calama that he will continue to fulfill his duties until a new defense attorney is appointed, in order not to violate the procedural rights of his client.
The situation complicates the position not only of the businessman himself but also of Zapatero, since the defense of Martínez Martínez directly affects the former Prime Minister's line of defense. Martínez Martínez was the sole administrator of the consulting firm Análisis Relevante, which investigators believe may have served as a vehicle for providing services and contacts related to Zapatero’s activities. It was through this company that the businessman signed contracts, including with the airline Plus Ultra, which became one of the key episodes in the investigation.
As noted by EL PAÍS, the case materials indicate that Análisis Relevante may have been used to formalize transactions which, according to investigators, concealed the actual services and connections provided through Zapatero's political influence. Both the investigation and the anti-corruption prosecutor's office believe this scheme enabled the accumulation and distribution of resources and contacts for the benefit of a limited group of people.
The withdrawal of the lawyer at such a critical stage could affect the course of the hearings and the strategies of the parties involved. The issue of appointing a new defense attorney must be resolved in the coming days to avoid delaying the proceedings. It is worth recalling that Zapatero had previously asked the court to postpone his questioning due to the emergence of new materials, as reported in the coverage of his defense team's requests. на russpain.com.
For reference: The National Court is one of Spain’s key judicial bodies, handling the most high-profile cases involving corruption and economic crimes. Plus Ultra is a Spanish airline repeatedly mentioned in major investigations in recent years. The case concerning the alleged influence network around Zapatero has become one of the most widely discussed political proceedings in recent Spanish history, as it brings up issues of transparency, lobbying, and the use of official connections at the highest level.
