Aldama claims Sánchez knew of his business dealings

Aldama implicates Sánchez and Begoña in Koldo case

Víctor de Aldama, the middleman in the Koldo case, testified before Judge Ismael Moreno at the National Court (Spain's high court for serious crimes) that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was informed of his activities and told him: "I know what you are doing and I thank you." The voluntary appearance from Soto del Real prison also implicated Begoña Gómez, Marlaska, Ábalos, Torres, Ribera, and Cerdán in an alleged network of irregular payments. Available data suggests total bribes exceeded €700,000 in cash.

Payments Aldama admits to the judge

Aldama confessed to payments of €400,000 to Ábalos and €250,000 to Koldo García, his former advisor. He allegedly handed €15,000 to Santos Cerdán, current Secretary of Organization of the PSOE; and €25,000 to Carlos Moreno, chief of staff to the First Vice President, to "secure a postponement of a tax matter." The businessman also stated that Ángel Víctor Torres, now Minister of Territorial Policy, asked the ring for €50,000, though they refused. "Then Koldo warned me we would have problems, and indeed we started having them," he added.

The testimony goes beyond payments. Aldama maintained that Sánchez imposed Koldo as Ábalos's advisor and that the Prime Minister expressed gratitude during a PSOE event in February 2019. The PSOE has announced a defamation lawsuit against the middleman, a legal path that, according to jurists, would result in a fine and could force Aldama to prove his claims in court.

Delcy Rodríguez alucinación and Marlaska's role

Regarding Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's visit to Spain in January 2020, Aldama testified that both Ábalos and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska were aware and served as "interlocutors." The visit, organized a month in advance, included a dinner with Sánchez, Marlaska, Salvador Illa, Teresa Ribera, and Ábalos, plus a meeting with then Attorney General Dolores Delgado. Aldama explained he rented the house at Oquendo Street 16 in Madrid and that the invitation letter was to be sent by Foreign Affairs but switched to the PSOE because the Ministry warned that Delcy was sanctioned by the EU. Interior sent the CNI (National Intelligence Center) to inspect the property.

Ribera and the Depopulated Spain project

Teresa Ribera, Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, is another name mentioned. Aldama assured he met "several times" with her regarding the Depopulated Spain project and that Begoña Gómez attended one of those meetings. The involvement of the Prime Minister's vvife occurs within a separate investigation but adds pressure on Sánchez's family circle.

What happens next with Aldama's testimony?

Aldama's statement aims to secure release from prison, where he is held for the fuel scheme, a network that allegedly defrauded €182 million in VAT. The Koldo case takes its name from Koldo García, Ábalos's advisor when he was Minister of Transport, a department that paid over €32 million to Soluciones de Gestión SL for masks. The PSOE's defamation suit would likely end in a fine but would require Aldama to defend himself with evidence. Judge Moreno must decide if the statements have incivil merit or remain in the realm of defamation.

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In the end, the question is not whether Aldama has proof, but whether anyone is willing to listen.