The new UCO report on the Leire Díez case, the judicial developments affecting Begoña Gómez and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and the evolution of the agreement between the United States and Iran are the focus of this Tuesday’s news summarized by Carlos Alsina.
The UCO tightens the siege on the Leire Díez plot
The first is the new UCO report on the Leire Díez case, which confirms how the PSOE paid for the trips of the so-called plumber and her partner Javier Pérez Dolset in their objective of collecting information against judges and Civil Guard agents who were investigating cases related to Pedro Sánchez’s environment.
The documentation seized during the registration at the Ferraz headquarters proves that Santos Cerdan had given instructions for the party workers to pay for the trips requested by Leire Díez, considering them previously authorized. In some of the intervened conversations, it can be seen how the socialist headquarters itself offered different options and schedules for said trips.
After each meeting, including one held with former Commissioner Villarejo, Leire Díez punctually reported to the then Secretary of Organization. Among the documentation located in devices and files that the PSOE continued to guard for Santos Cerdán, a document titled “Breaches”in which the plumber detailed the progress of the operation.
Coinciding with his appearance in the Tafalla courts, Santos Cerdán denied any involvement in the events investigated.
The current Secretary of Organization of the PSOE also appeared, Rebeca Torrowho attributed any possible irregularity exclusively to the actions of his predecessor. Torró defended that the payments made to Leire Díez and the lawyer Jacobo Teijelo were not illegal. However, the cross-checking of invoices provided to the judge reveals that there are two documents worth 26,500 euros that do not appear either in the party’s official accounting or in the documentation sent to the Court of Auditors.
The explanation offered by Torró is that these works were ultimately not carried out and, therefore, were never paid for.
Zapatero asks for more time to explain the jewelry
The judicial situation continues to become complicated for the Government environment. Begoña Gómeztogether with the Moncloa advisor Cristina Álvarez and the businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, already knows that it will be a popular jury who will determine his responsibility in the case instructed by Judge Peinado for alleged crimes related to corruption in business.
One of the most relevant developments is that the representatives of the Complutense University have supported the opening of an oral trial. Although there are still appeals pending resolution, the final decision will correspond to the Provincial Court.
Where there has been surprise is in the issue of precautionary measures. Judge Peinado has chosen to postpone his decision on the petition of the popular accusations, which requested the withdrawal of Begoña Gómez’s passport and the prohibition of leaving the national territory. Although there does not seem to be any risk of flight, the last word remains with the magistrate.
In Moncloa and Ferraz, the declaration of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero scheduled for this week before the National Court. The expectation in the PSOE is that the former president can clarify his relationship with Julio Martínez and with the consultancy Analysis Relevantes, after the Civil Guard located documentation linked to his activity.
The latest news is that Zapatero has requested to postpone part of his statement, specifically that related to the jewelry and the alleged crimes of smuggling and tax fraud. His defense argues that he needs more time to compile supporting documentation and to present a new appraisal that contradicts the one carried out by Ansorena, which valued the pieces at 1.3 million euros. Judge Calama has not yet resolved this request.
Trump brags about the Iran deal before the G7
At the international level, Donald Trump has seemed especially satisfied in the run-up to the G7 summit. The US president has highlighted that the agreement reached with Iran has boosted international stock markets and has reinforced market confidence.
However, many analysts remember that when the United States decided to bomb Iranian positions, exactly the opposite happened and that a complete economic recovery could still take several months.
Former President Barack Obama has taken the opportunity to remember that the pact that Trump is now celebrating has many similarities with the nuclear agreement that his administration reached with Iran and that it was precisely Trump who decided to abandon it in 2018.
Between today and tomorrow the White House hopes to make public the final text of the agreement. The United States hopes that the demining of the area will be completed by Friday. Strait of Hormuz and commercial navigation can be completely restored.
Meanwhile, some unknowns remain about Israel’s role. Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that he will maintain freedom of action in Lebanon, while Trump has clarified that the agreement does not contemplate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south of the country. Doubts about Netanyahu’s ability to condition regional strategy seem, for the moment, dispelled.
