Aldama Alleges Bribes to Cerdán and Torres in Spain

Aldama Alleges Bribes to Cerdán and Torres

Businessman Víctor de Aldama testified before Judge Ismael Moreno that Santos Cerdán, the PSOE’s number three, received €15,000 in commissions, while Minister Ángel Víctor Torres allegedly requested €50,000 during his presidency of the Canary Islands in a mask procurement deal. These figures turned a voluntary appearance into the week’s political earthquake. Forum reactions were immediate: “If Sánchez survives after Aldama’s testimony, he must be immortal,” summarized the thread title, which over 683 days shifted from irony to analyzing systemic resilience.

The Figures Aldama Presented

Aldama did not limit his statements to Cerdán and Torres. According to his testimony, he paid €250,000 to former minister José Luis Ábalos and €100,000 to Koldo García, his assistant. He added that at one point he told them, “I am not the Banco de España” (Spain’s central bank), when asked for more money. The forum estimates total direct payments exceed half a million euros, excluding subsequent transactions.

Some argue these amounts are “too small for what was likely stolen,” suggesting the relevance lies not in the sum but in the structure: a network reaching an active minister and the party’s third-in-command, according to Aldama’s account. The detailed breakdown of payments and dates has led many to reassess the severity of the case.

Why Doubt Exists About Aldama’s Evidence

The question pervades the thread: “Has he provided proof or is it just ‘trust me’?” As of the discussion date, Aldama promised evidence upon leaving Soto del Real prison: “Since he wants so much proof, Mr. Sánchez need not worry; he will have evidence for everything said.” However, no such material has been confirmed in available sources.

Skepticism is not unilateral. Some note that if Aldama is not involved in shady dealings, his testimony may be self-serving. Others counter that photos with Sánchez prove a relationship, though not necessarily incivil. The debate shifts to a more uncomfortable point: if judicial and fiscal systems are embedded within parties, as some analyses suggest, no amount of proof will topple the government.

The Argument of Political Immortality

“It is not immortality; we live in a state without rule of law,” writes one participant. The dominant thesis is that Sánchez survives not due to innocence, but because control mechanisms are blocked. Payments to separatists, terrorists, and communists are cited as parliamentary support, concluding that “as long as he keeps paying, Sánchez is here to stay.”

Conversely, others argue the PP “also dances” and that a motion of censure would require Puigdemont’s support, turning the alternative into farce. No consensus emerges: some see structural impunity, others simple arithmetic of seats.

Accumulating Cases

The thread lists issues beyond Aldama: dinners with Delcy Rodríguez involving Venezuelan gold, €400,000 cash payments to Ábalos, subsequent €2 million transactions, and meetings with Teresa Ribera and Begoña Gómez regarding forest repopulation. Participants describe a blanket pulled tight on one side, exposing the other.

“All this will reach foreign public opinion,” warns one message, noting that prime ministers elsewhere resign over lesser matters. Comparisons with UK cases recur: there, trivialities cause falls; here, no one falls.

SMI and Whoppers: An Unexpected Turn

Mid-thread, conversation shifts to minimum wage. One participant jokes: “Everyone knows raising the SMI (minimum wage) by €3,000 means everyone earns €3,000 more without affecting unemployment or inflation.” Responses trinc quickly: “Rent and grocery prices have risen far more than that SMI increase.”

The exchange becomes a clash over whether SMI hikes improved or worsened workers’ lives. One bluntly states: “Thanks to constantly raising that crap, we are all poor now, even those who earned decent salaries.” Another retorts sarcastically: “If your Whopper price went up, time to eat healthy.” Economic and political discussions blend seamlessly.

What Remains to Be Seen

Aldama promised evidence. Judge Ismael Moreno holds the testimony. But the thread does not close the case, leaving it exactly where it started with a floating question. If proof arrives and nothing happens, the immortality thesis is confirmed. If something changes, reasons must be examined. With these elements, any prediction is risky. The only certainty is that Whopper prices keep rising.