The president of Plus Ultra, Julio Martínez Sola, testified before the Spanish Senate, asserting that he had no doubt his airline could qualify for state aid, while denying any improper influence in the process.
Julio Martínez Sola, the president of Plus Ultra, recently addressed the Spanish Senate regarding the controversial bail-out of his airline, which has alleged connections to Venezuela and former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. In his testimony, Martínez Sola insisted that he had no doubts about his company’s eligibility for state aid, which was designated for strategic companies during the recovery phase. He emphasized that Plus Ultra, operating in crucial sectors like tourism and transportation, had been recognized as a strategic entity by the government shortly after its establishment.
During the parliamentary investigation, Martínez Sola firmly rejected any notion of receiving preferential treatment or unauthorized interference in the bail-out process. He claimed that Plus Ultra had not been given any illicit aid and staunchly defended the legitimacy of the financial assistance his airline received from the state-managed fund overseen by the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (Sepi). His assertions come amid scrutiny regarding the motivations behind the bail-out and potential political connections.
Martínez Sola's testimony reflects broader concerns over government transparency and the appropriateness of state aid practices in Spain, particularly in the context of the ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The parliamentary inquiry aims to shed light on the procedures surrounding the allocation of bail-out funds, and this high-profile case may impact perceptions of governmental action in the business sector, especially regarding firms associated with political figures or foreign influences.
