The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has underlined that it was former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero who promoted the regulations on official gifts, and has specified that it is now he who must determine whether to return the jewelry seized in the searches of the 'Plus Ultra case', preliminarily valued at 1.3 million. Furthermore, he has reiterated his confidence in Zapatero's innocence following his indictment in this judicial proceeding.
In a press conference after the European Council, Sánchez insisted that in 2007 there was no specific "legislation" on the gifts received by presidents and that it was precisely Zapatero who promoted that "legal framework precisely to regulate and register those gifts".
His allusion refers to the Code of Good Governance launched by Zapatero in 2005, which established an inventory of presents given to leaders on official trips, limited their acceptance, and stipulated that those of high value should be transferred to the State Treasury. During his term, a draft transparency bill was also drawn up.
When asked if it is coherent that a former head of the Executive who established that registration system could keep jewelry as a gift and if Zapatero would have to return them, Sánchez replied that the former president himself must clarify that matter.
"I can tell you about my experience, and my experience is that when one travels, one receives gifts which are not registered until one returns to Madrid," he stated, adding that these gifts are given as a sign of institutional respect or brotherhood.
To conclude, he reiterated his respect for the work of the courts and his full confidence in Zapatero's innocence. He also defended the constitutional right to the presumption of innocence, which in his opinion is often "trampled upon," and said he could imagine the complicated personal situation the former leader is going through due to the indictment of his two daughters.