The 85 pages of the National Court's ruling that implicate the former socialist Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, is like an inexhaustible well of intrigues, with names, countries, companies, and adjectival nomenclatures that do not go unnoticed by the reader who wishes to delve into the judicial document to which access has been gained in its entirety, Demócrata.
One of those intrigues revolves around "The Lady of the Ships". This is how some of the alleged collaborators of this scheme refer to her, which once again takes us to Venezuela, to the purchase of oil and influence peddling, with an additional ingredient of mystery, the "Chinese Communist Party".
"The Lady" is none other than Delcy Rodríguez, current president of the Government of Venezuela, and then at the time of the account, vice-president of the Caracas government, and to whom the ruling attributes a relationship in a supposed purchase, in collusion with Zapatero's transactions, at the center of an articulated network of influences. This passage is dated January 2024, almost four years after Delcy Rodríguez made a prohibited landing at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas international airport on January 20, 2020.
This is the reproduced context
In this analyzed part (pages 42 and 43), the ruling brings us before four figures: Domingo Arnaldo Chacón, Guillermo Alfredo Amarco Chacón, Julio Martínez Martínez, and Philipe Apikian. Key pieces in the mechanism of Zapatero's alleged corruption scheme. This is the literal text recorded from this part of the story:
"Regarding Domingo Arnaldo Amaro Chacón and Guillermo Alfredo Amaro Chacón, the intervention they carry out in matters of international politics and business, particularly in relation to Venezuela, manifestly exceeds the capabilities and functions of a common businessman, affecting first-level state affairs that have nothing to do with the usual operations of a commercial company.
This is evident from several conversations found on the phone of Julio Martínez Martínez. Specifically, when he forwards two messages in which he indicates first: "Coke" and, subsequently, an order is given to prepare a letter of intent, "Prepare LOI".
On 23.01.2024, Domingo Amaro Chacón informs Julio Martínez Martínez that Philippe Apikian, president of the company Swissoil Trading SA, "and the Chinese are ready to buy ships," and communicates that he is "Ready to travel to meet with the Lady and Minister of Petroleum."
From the analyzed messages, it is clear that, to access the oil trading operations, potential buyers must necessarily channel the management through the articulated network of influence, who must address José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero through the mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI).
The interlocutors even reveal that they do not know the type of crude oil they will acquire - which they will specify later - by stating that "they need information on what product the letter of intent is for." They also identify Delcy Rodríguez ("The Lady") as the person who controls the allocation of ships.
"The Lady is the one who handles the direct allocation of the ships."
Finally, they send the LOI which contains José's contact details and the designated postal address for its delivery. This demonstrates the modus operandi and highlights the decisive participation and influence of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who has direct access to individuals at the highest levels of political responsibility.
Furthermore, the expression used by the interlocutors -"we must be clear about what we are going to offer. This is a company that depends on the Chinese Communist Party"-, reveals the involvement or participation of state-level actors in the business operation, reinforcing the conclusion that the described activity far transcends the scope of an ordinary commercial transaction.
Likewise, a letter of intent appears sent by "China International Cultural Technology Resources Group CO LTD" to the "Office of President Zapatero," specifically addressed to José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, on 30.10.2023.