The PSOE spokesperson in Congress, Patxi López, reiterated this Wednesday his support for former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and questioned whether the information about his investigation comes from "a phone confiscated five years ago" by the United States, which, as he stressed, would have come to light just "now".
He made these remarks in the corridors of the Chamber when asked if he believes the judicial procedure is a possible conspiracy by the United States, in line with what Minister Diana Morant suggested yesterday. López stated that he is not "conspiratorial," although he emphasized: "We are talking about data from a phone confiscated five years ago, and it turns out that now is when it appears. Let everyone think what they want about this fact."
Regarding the former president's decision not to testify before Judge José Luis Calama about the origin of the jewels valued at 1.3 million euros seized in his office, the socialist leader explained that Zapatero is "gathering the data" to clarify their provenance with "documents that prove where they come from." "It is something very reasonable," he defended.
When questioned about the fact that the judge maintains in his order the existence of indications of criminality after the former president's statement, López referred to the statement issued by Zapatero and expressed his confidence that he will be "able to defend himself and provide sufficient evidence to show that there is nothing criminal in his behavior."
"No order from the PSOE is needed to defend Zapatero"
When asked if the party leadership had given any specific instructions to defend their former general secretary, the socialist spokesperson assured that no "order" is necessary for something he considers "common sense": defending "the presumption of innocence" and trust "in Justice."
"We trust Zapatero. It is time for Justice, and Zapatero must defend himself based on facts. Justice must not make a definitive pronouncement on suspicions or indications, but on facts, on realities, and on data, and that is why we maintain our confidence," he stressed.
Regarding the possible internal legal actions that the party is considering, including eventual lawsuits, for example against the so-called 'plumber' Leire Díez, López stated that there is "no news" because the "procedural time" remains the same.
"They are going to attack the PSOE" in Pedro Sánchez's appearance
Regarding the appearance of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, next week in Congress, the spokesperson has warned that there are sectors that use these matters "to attack the PSOE and especially the Government and President Pedro Sánchez" and that "nothing that is said or put on the table will convince him at all."
"They already have a strategy to use anything of this nature as another element of the mudslinging they permanently engage in," he added.
In this context, the parliamentary spokesperson has been emphatic in stating that "there is no illegal financing whatsoever in the Socialist Party" and has stressed that the party has reacted "with immediacy," first by "expelling all those who may be, who may have committed acts that are not only illegal but unethical."
Furthermore, he has highlighted that the PSOE has promoted internal measures "that are working" and has indicated that these tools are so effective that they have allowed them to put "at the disposal of justice every last ticket, every last contract, every last invoice of all those that exist in the party." In this regard, he has emphasized that they have "redoubled their efforts to improve transparency and the traceability of expenses."
Finally, when asked if the socialists are considering regulating the activity of current and former presidents, López replied that they can "study it," although he specified that they have not yet adopted "any decision on that."