Spanish government to defend Plus Ultra bailout secrecy before Supreme Court

The Spanish government is set to defend its decision to keep the full documentation of the €53 million rescue package granted to Plus Ultra in 2021 before the Supreme Court on October 27. The Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI) has appealed previous rulings that supported public access to the files, arguing that pandemic-era emergency decrees allow for the information to remain confidential.

The legal battle highlights a tension between the government’s transparency claims and its efforts to withhold the complete administrative record of the bailout. Previous decisions by the Transparency Council, a central administrative court, and the National Court have all favored the right of citizens to access the documentation due to the high public interest involved.

The case carries political weight as the operation is currently under investigation. Reports indicate that former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is being investigated by the National Court regarding potential influence peddling related to the management of the aid, involving airline executives and businessman Julio Martínez Martínez.