Foreign Ministry asserts that the Zapatero case does not affect Spain’s “solid” international image

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares asserted this Thursday that the indictment of former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero by the National Court is having no effect on Spain's image, which "is currently very solid internationally." "Spain's image internationally at this time is very solid, one of the strongest in its history, for many reasons, due to our political and international stance," the minister declared on the TVE program 'La hora de La 1'. "Everyone recognizes our humanist foreign policy, based on humanist values, which is consistent, which defends the same principles of respect for international law, the pursuit of peace, and the rejection of war as an instrument of foreign policy, in all scenarios, whether in Ukraine, the Middle East, or against anyone," he continued. “Also because of our economy, which is currently leading growth in Europe and is one of the world’s leading growth economies, and also because of our very clear stance regarding the equal dignity of all human beings, including migrants,” he added. “Therefore, at this time, Spain’s perception as a country, its international standing, and its foreign policy are widely applauded,” he added. National Court Judge José Luis Calama has issued a ruling regarding Zapatero’s alleged involvement in crimes of influence peddling, money laundering of illicit funds from Venezuela, and illegal trafficking of oil and gold from that country. In this regard, the minister himself expressed his “great affection and fondness” for the former president on Wednesday and asked for respect for “the figures of former presidents of the Government.” He also recalled that Zapatero himself released a video this past Tuesday “in which he forcefully defended his innocence and his honesty” and announced that “he will continue to firmly defend that innocence.” In any case, Albares assured that “Spain’s policy toward Venezuela will not change at all” as a consequence of these events. For his part, the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, declared on Wednesday at the VII International Forum “Expansión” that the history of Spanish democracy has taken “a leap” because it is the first time a former Prime Minister has been indicted. “The alleged crimes could not have been committed without a direct link, authorization, and complicity with the Council of Ministers,” he asserted. He points to “a before and after” following “a very sad day for Spanish democracy” due to Zapatero’s indictment for alleged crimes of national and international influence peddling, money laundering, misappropriation, and belonging to a criminal organization. “Everyone has to rise to the occasion, and certainly my party and I will,” he added. “The political atmosphere in Spain is unbearable,” he warned.

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