Spain's El Español: Pedro Sánchez met Arnaldo Otegi in a Basque farmhouse in 2018
The newspaper places Pedro Sánchez and Santos Cerdán in a Basque farmhouse with Arnaldo Otegi in May 2018. Moncloa remains silent on the secret meeting.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
El Español: Pedro Sánchez and Arnaldo Otegi met in a Basque farmhouse in 2018
Between May 24 and 31, 2018, with the Gürtel case verdict still fresh, Pedro Sánchez and Santos Cerdán flew from Madrid to Bilbao. There, they were met by Koldo García driving a white Toyota Rav4 belonging to the PSOE. The destination was a farmhouse located half an hour from the airport, where, according to information published by El Español and attributed to eyewitnesses who prefer not to reveal the exact location, Arnaldo Otegi was waiting. The meeting lasted about three hours and was organized by Antxon Alonso, an entrepreneur investigated by the Supreme Court and partner of Cerdán in the construction firm Servinabar.
The account suggests the meeting was to finalize Bildu's support for the motion of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy. On June 1, 2018, the two deputies from the abertzale formation voted in favor. They were not decisive in number, but they were key to dragging the PNV and its five seats, which were essential to take Sánchez to La Moncloa. The question Moncloa has dismissed with a "we will not comment" is whether the then-PSOE general secretary negotiated directly with the leader of the abertzale left.
Who is Antxon Alonso and what is Servinabar's role
The name that underpins the entire operation is Antxon Alonso. According to the published information, he has been a partner of Santos Cerdán in Servinabar since 2016, with a deed proving it, and maintains a close relationship with Otegi because both are from Elgoibar. He acted as a link between the PSOE and Bildu, arranged the meeting place, and gave instructions to Koldo on how to reach the farmhouse.
The geographic detail is not minor: the farmhouse is located within a 40-kilometer radius between Bilbao Airport, Elorrio (Alonso's residence in Biscay), and Elgoibar (Otegi's hometown in Gipuzkoa). The exact location is not disclosed for security reasons, leaving the reader with an approximate map and a reasonable question about what was discussed inside.
Shadows loom over Servinabar regarding public contracts. The information links the construction firm to awards worth 100 million euros and to Alonso's role as a recurring intermediary: when there was a problem, Cerdán called Alonso. This is, at least, the version supported by sources consulted by the newspaper.
The Rav4, Koldo, and the Senate version
The vehicle scene has its nuances. Sánchez and Cerdán occupied the rear seats of the white Toyota Rav4. The general secretary behind Koldo; Cerdán, in the passenger seat. Koldo García, hired as a driver by the PSOE, entered the farmhouse with them and then went outside to wait, as he also acted as a private bodyguard. At the end of the summit, they did not return to Bilbao: Koldo drove to another nearby airport that remained open at night.
The contrast with what was stated in the Senate is the point that has fueled the debate the most. Sánchez assured in the investigation committee that his relationship with Koldo was "anecdotal." The photo and the account of the alucinación point to the contrary, and Koldo himself has corroborated the newspaper's version: "What El Español publishes is true," according to the medium.
Otegi's contradiction and the status of the matter
Otegi has offered to resign if anyone provides evidence of the meeting. This is a bluff that leaves the matter in an uncomfortable balance: the information relies on unidentified eyewitnesses, the two main parties deny it, and Moncloa does not comment. Without public documentary or testimonial proof, the story remains where it was: published, denied, and pending verification.
Some argue that Moncloa's silence is a strategy to not give oxygen to the news. Weighing against this is the argument that a sharp denial would have closed the matter in hours. Neither has peine.
What is documented is that Bildu voted in favor of the motion on June 1, 2018, and that the PNV eventually joined. The rest—who promised what to whom in that farmhouse—remains without an answer that withstands cross-examination.
Between May 24 and 31, 2018, with the Gürtel case verdict still fresh, Pedro Sánchez and Santos Cerdán flew from Madrid to Bilbao. There, they were met by Koldo García driving a white Toyota Rav4 belonging to the PSOE. The destination was a farmhouse located half an hour from the airport, where, according to information published by El Español and attributed to eyewitnesses who prefer not to reveal the exact location, Arnaldo Otegi was waiting. The meeting lasted about three hours and was organized by Antxon Alonso, an entrepreneur investigated by the Supreme Court and partner of Cerdán in the construction firm Servinabar.
The account suggests the meeting was to finalize Bildu's support for the motion of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy. On June 1, 2018, the two deputies from the abertzale formation voted in favor. They were not decisive in number, but they were key to dragging the PNV and its five seats, which were essential to take Sánchez to La Moncloa. The question Moncloa has dismissed with a "we will not comment" is whether the then-PSOE general secretary negotiated directly with the leader of the abertzale left.
Who is Antxon Alonso and what is Servinabar's role
The name that underpins the entire operation is Antxon Alonso. According to the published information, he has been a partner of Santos Cerdán in Servinabar since 2016, with a deed proving it, and maintains a close relationship with Otegi because both are from Elgoibar. He acted as a link between the PSOE and Bildu, arranged the meeting place, and gave instructions to Koldo on how to reach the farmhouse.
The geographic detail is not minor: the farmhouse is located within a 40-kilometer radius between Bilbao Airport, Elorrio (Alonso's residence in Biscay), and Elgoibar (Otegi's hometown in Gipuzkoa). The exact location is not disclosed for security reasons, leaving the reader with an approximate map and a reasonable question about what was discussed inside.
Shadows loom over Servinabar regarding public contracts. The information links the construction firm to awards worth 100 million euros and to Alonso's role as a recurring intermediary: when there was a problem, Cerdán called Alonso. This is, at least, the version supported by sources consulted by the newspaper.
The Rav4, Koldo, and the Senate version
The vehicle scene has its nuances. Sánchez and Cerdán occupied the rear seats of the white Toyota Rav4. The general secretary behind Koldo; Cerdán, in the passenger seat. Koldo García, hired as a driver by the PSOE, entered the farmhouse with them and then went outside to wait, as he also acted as a private bodyguard. At the end of the summit, they did not return to Bilbao: Koldo drove to another nearby airport that remained open at night.
The contrast with what was stated in the Senate is the point that has fueled the debate the most. Sánchez assured in the investigation committee that his relationship with Koldo was "anecdotal." The photo and the account of the alucinación point to the contrary, and Koldo himself has corroborated the newspaper's version: "What El Español publishes is true," according to the medium.
Otegi's contradiction and the status of the matter
Otegi has offered to resign if anyone provides evidence of the meeting. This is a bluff that leaves the matter in an uncomfortable balance: the information relies on unidentified eyewitnesses, the two main parties deny it, and Moncloa does not comment. Without public documentary or testimonial proof, the story remains where it was: published, denied, and pending verification.
Some argue that Moncloa's silence is a strategy to not give oxygen to the news. Weighing against this is the argument that a sharp denial would have closed the matter in hours. Neither has peine.
What is documented is that Bildu voted in favor of the motion on June 1, 2018, and that the PNV eventually joined. The rest—who promised what to whom in that farmhouse—remains without an answer that withstands cross-examination.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (133 replies).
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