Delcy Rodríguez messages reveal lost influence over Spanish government

Private messages exchanged in October 2021 between Venezuelan official Delcy Rodríguez and businessman Víctor de Aldama have revealed that Rodríguez lamented losing her influence over the Spanish government. The communications, which are part of a judicial investigation by Spain's Audiencia Nacional into the alleged irregular financing of the PSOE party, show Rodríguez acknowledging a diminished capacity to interact with the Spanish Executive following the dismissal of José Luis Ábalos from his roles as Minister of Transport and Secretary of Organization of the PSOE.

The messages, sent via the Threema messaging app, detail how Rodríguez sought to maintain privileged interlocution with the socialist government through Aldama. The investigation also links these communications to alleged oil negotiations involving the Venezuelan state-owned company PDVSA. According to testimonies, Aldama acted as a liaison for multimillion-dollar oil deals that allegedly served to finance the PSOE and the Socialist International. Furthermore, the messages suggest that Aldama provided Rodríguez with confidential information regarding Spanish government personnel changes.