Julio Martínez Martínez, a personal friend of former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, had a contract stipulating a 1% commission for successfully securing a government rescue of Plus Ultra airline.
Julio Martínez Martínez, a businessman and former acquaintance of ex-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, possessed a contract that entitled him to a 1% commission on the successful management of a government bailout for Plus Ultra airline. The investigation revealed that Martínez, who had already been hired as an external advisor by the airline in 2020, aimed to facilitate the government’s decision to rescue Plus Ultra amid its financial troubles.
The Spanish government, led by Pedro Sánchez, officially granted Plus Ultra a substantial financial aid package amounting to 53 million euros in March 2021. Sources indicated that the police had discovered the controversial contract on one of Martínez's computers during an investigation last December, raising ethical and legal questions regarding the involvement of former government officials in private sector dealings.
This revelation brings to light potential conflicts of interest and the transparency issues surrounding government contracts, particularly when political figures and their acquaintances are involved in lucrative advisory roles concerning state-funded rescues. The public and political scrutiny of such arrangements can have significant implications for trust in governmental processes and the integrity of financial assistance provided during economic crises.
