Pardo de Vera defends himself to the Senate: « I am afraid of this world, I do not recognize what is happening in this country » | Spain

Nine days after the judge of Koldo case, Ismael Moreno, charged Isabel Pardo de Vera for embezzlement and influence peddling, the former president of ADIF has faced on Thursday afternoon at the parliamentary interrogation of the Senate Research Commission. The former Responsible of the Public Company of Railway Infrastructure He has come to the upper house for the second timeat the request of the PP, a year after having appeared in the same commission.

Although, on this occasion, Pardo de Vera done as charged. And on the same day in which he was planned to declare before the judge for his alleged participation in the hiring of Jésica R., former couple of the socialist José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Transportation of the Government of Pedro Sánchez. The appointment at the National Court has been postponed. Not so his assistance to the Upper House, where Pardo de Vera has accepted his legal right not to respond in parliamentary headquarters – for “recommendation” of his “lawyers” -, by being investigated in the process.

However, the former president of Adif has broken her silence at various times. First, briefly, with the UPN senator María Mar Caballero, who has reproached him for quiet by response. But above all in front of the PP Senator Alejo Miranda, who has taken advantage of his 50 minutes of intervention to make a story of the facts by giving them for granted. In parallel, the judicial investigation continues its course.

Miranda’s first question has gone to the jugular and has alluded to the socialists with the current; The PP parliamentarian He has begun his turn referring to the militant and former high socialist position Leire Díaz as an alleged “plumber” of the PSOEwho, according to the PSOE, did not act in his name or work in the organization.

—Do you silence because Leire Díaz or the Plumbers of the Lord (Santos) Cerdán have tried to silence it today? It contrasts a lot of your silence with your haughty tone here a year ago.

After the initial issue, Miranda has made a diatribe of statements On the alleged involvement of Pardo de Vera in the hiring of Jésica R., to which he has described as « concubine » and « catalog girl of Ábalos ». The magistrate of the Supreme Court Leopoldo Puente, in charge of the Ábalos case, He stressed that there were « quite signs » that the former president of Adif « I could have a relevant participation » in the « irregular and capricious » hiring of women in the public companies INECO and Tragsatec.

Beyond Jésica R., the popular senator has also influenced the alleged « responsibility » of Pardo de Vera in the award, to the company management solutions, contracts for the purchase of masks during the pandemic. The ex -correspondible infrastructure company is not charged with this second matter.

While Miranda launched her incriminations, the former president of Adif has not been able to show, with gestures of disapproval, her disagreement. He denied his head, roasted with his hands or stared at the parliamentarian as surprise. Such has been his disagreement that has finally been exchanging words between Miranda and Pardo de Vera. This is a face to face fragment.

« Is a person of trusted person from Ábalos? »

—He was the general director with the Popular Party and the minister, at that time Ábalos, I did not know me when he appointed me (President of Adif).

—We speak of your hiring of masks, which you awarded the plot company.

« You have probably not seen my appearance in the Supreme Court. » The bridge magistrate himself said that my statement (about the masks) at the National Court had been neat enough (…).

« Opta for silence and cover. »

—Opto for welcoming a constitutional right and I beg you not to talked reality.

« Skate for fear? »

« I am afraid of this world, yes, and I’m very sad, I have to say it. » Of course I am afraid. I do not recognize what is happening in this country.

After almost an hour of allegation, Miranda has concluded.

« The Jésica was a clear case of nepotism. » What is clear to me is that you are a great collaborationist. Now appears in another catalog, that of the accused. And I wish him good luck.

The words of the popular senator have received the reproach of the Socialist Bank, for whom the « conclusions » of the Investigation Commission of the Koldo case by the PP « are written. » « Seen for sentence! », It has been heard at the end among the senators of the PSOE. « We support the investigation commissions, but not the Vendettas, » the socialist senator José Francisco Hila had previously claimed.