Spain's SEPI Vice‑President Bartolomé Lora Testifies on 475 Million‑Euro Air Europa Rescue

Bartolomé Lora, vice‑president of the state holding company SEPI, appeared before the Madrid Juzgado de Instrucción 49 on Friday as part of an investigation into the €475 million rescue granted to airline Air Europa in November 2020. Prosecutors from the PP and Vox allege that Lora ordered an administrative resolution that bypassed essential criteria and that he was aware the decision was unjust, constituting a possible crime of prevarication.

The case, overseen by magistrate José María Escribano, also examines earlier pandemic‑era funding: an initial €35 million loan on 18 May 2020 and a subsequent €141 million tranche, both backed by the Instituto de Crédito Oficial and major banks. The judge has ordered SEPI to hand over all related documentation, including meeting minutes, emails, drafts and reports, to determine how the aid was approved and whether irregularities occurred.

Lora declined to comment to the press, stating he would not make statements, while the State Attorney Rosa Seoane noted that he answered all questions. The investigation follows multiple closed inquiries into the same rescue, adding to scrutiny of state aid practices during the COVID‑19 crisis.