Two Plus Ultra executives have confirmed the authenticity of messages implicating José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in the airline's €53 million bailout. The court now weighs the legal status of these communications amid ongoing scrutiny.
Two top executives from Plus Ultra, President Julio Martínez Sola and CEO Roberto Roselli, have formally confirmed to the court the authenticity of WhatsApp messages that play a central role in the investigation into the airline's €53 million state bailout. Their statements, submitted this week, directly support the prosecution's case that these communications—exchanged with Venezuelan businessman and shareholder Rodolfo Reyes Rojas—are genuine and accurately reflect discussions about the controversial rescue package granted in 2021.
The messages, retrieved from Reyes Rojas's mobile phone, have become a focal point in the probe led by Judge José Luis Calama. The court is examining whether former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero orchestrated an organized network to influence the allocation of pandemic-era public funds. The conversations, repeatedly cited by the National Police's Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF), include references to Zapatero's alleged involvement, with one message explicitly mentioning “Nuestro pana Zapatero detrás.”
Zapatero's legal team has challenged the admissibility of these messages, arguing they were seized in Miami by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in 2021 without a Spanish judicial order and only handed to Spanish authorities in March 2026. The defense claims this process could undermine the integrity and legality of the evidence, raising concerns about due process and the right to a fair trial.
Martínez Sola and Roselli specifically highlighted three conversations from Reyes Rojas's phone, two of which directly mention Zapatero. In one exchange from May 2020, Reyes asks Roselli about a conversation with Zapatero, to which Roselli responds that he is dealing with an intermediary, referencing Julio Martínez Martínez, a close associate of Zapatero and administrator of Análisis Relevante, the consultancy at the heart of the alleged influence network. The messages suggest an expectation of financial compensation for facilitating the bailout, with references to a “finance boutique” and a potential commission.
A second conversation from July 2020 shows Reyes sending Martínez Sola news about the creation of the Solvency Support Fund for Strategic Companies (FASEE), with Martínez Sola replying that the “Grupo Zapatero” was already involved. The executives' filings indicate that subsequent meetings with Martínez Martínez led to a formal advisory contract between Análisis Relevante and Plus Ultra, valued at €60,000 plus VAT, as an initial payment for securing the rescue. They also admit that a further commission—over half a million euros, representing 1% of the bailout—was later paid through companies linked to Martínez Martínez.
The legal status of these intercepted messages remains under review. On June 5, Judge Calama requested formal judicial authorization from U.S. authorities to ensure the evidence could be used in Spanish court. Zapatero's defense responded by demanding additional information on how the messages were obtained, insisting that only evidence meeting strict standards of authenticity and legality should be admitted. On June 25, Zapatero intensified his challenge, seeking to nullify the entire investigation on grounds that it originated from unauthorized analysis of private conversations.
This case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile political figures and the scale of public funds at stake. The controversy over the Plus Ultra bailout has previously been explored in related coverage, such as the detailed examination of the airline's rescue and Zapatero's alleged role, available in this report on the Plus Ultra commission case.
For context, the Plus Ultra bailout was one of several high-value state interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at supporting strategic companies facing financial distress. The FASEE fund, managed by SEPI, distributed billions in aid to airlines and other sectors. The ongoing legal battle over the admissibility of evidence in this case could set important precedents for future investigations involving cross-border data and international cooperation. The outcome may also influence public trust in how Spain manages emergency economic support and addresses allegations of political influence in state decisions.
