Julio Martínez investigated in Plus Ultra rescue fund scandal

Investigations by Spain's Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) are examining the movement of funds following the €53 million rescue of the airline Plus Ultra. The inquiry focuses on Julio Martínez, an entrepreneur accused of acting as a 'frontman' for former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Records from the Mercantile Registry indicate that Martínez implemented significant changes to his network of companies in Alicante shortly after the rescue was approved by the State Society of Industrial Participations (SEPI). These changes involved removing his siblings from direct management and assuming sole administration of several companies, such as Voli Analitica S.L. and Nez Asesores. These maneuvers reportedly occurred just weeks after the rescue was finalized, potentially to insulate his family from the subsequent flow of funds from the airline.

The case has expanded beyond the legality of the public aid itself to include allegations of high-level mediation, instructions, and payments intended to benefit Zapatero and his daughters. Testimonies suggest Martínez may have played a key role in intermediating the process and influencing decision-making regarding the sensitive public operation.