Since the judicial investigation into José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero became known, both Pedro Sánchez and Ferraz have maintained contact with the former President of the Government. Publicly, “trust” in his “presumption of innocence”. After hearing his first public explanations, 65 days after he promised to give them to the media, the PSOE maintains its “support” for Zapatero and its “defense of the presumption of innocence”.
Both La Moncloa and Ferraz had long been waiting for those public explanations promised by Zapatero. Not doing so tied their hands. They had no leverage. Although there were officials who did not consider it appropriate for him to speak out to avoid making mistakes or compromising his word as the investigation progressed, the majority feeling among socialists was the need for answers to calm the unease and uncertainty. The former President of the Government, in an interview on TVE, defended his innocence and denied mediating or pressuring for the Plus Ultra rescue to be carried out by the Government.
“I did not speak with anyone from Sepi, nor the Government, nor with any public authority. It’s not that I didn’t influence, it’s that I didn’t speak with anyone,” Zapatero stated. He also denied his involvement in the creation of offshore companies. “It is untrue that I gave directives to create offshore companies.”
What he has not offered any clarification or data on is the jewels he had deposited in the safe of his office, which a first appraisal valued at 1.3 million. “They had no patrimonial intention or desire. They are a courtesy, personal gift, from many years ago. I want to be prudent, I want everything to be explained before justice, but they had neither origin nor destination.”
“The PSOE maintains exactly the same position it has defended from day one: absolute respect for the judicial procedure and defense of the presumption of innocence,” they state from Ferraz, the national headquarters of the socialists, after the public appearance of the former President of the Government. “We maintain our support for President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.”
Despite having taken more than two months to give the public explanations he promised and not having provided any details or information about the jewels, one of the issues that most concern the socialists, due to its impact especially on ethical and exemplary matters, Ferraz accepts the explanations. It validates and approves them, assuming the argument that he should elaborate and give details in court. No public reproach from the leadership for the delay or lack of details.
“President Zapatero wanted to address the public to offer public explanations and reaffirm his innocence. In his right to defense and out of respect for the procedure, he will complete his detailed explanation before the investigating judge,” Ferraz concludes.
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