Juan Mestre

👤 The Spanish Senate has requested the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Industry and Commerce ministries to locate Javier Hidalgo, ex-CEO of Globalia, for a commission investigating the 'Koldo case'. Hidalgo was called to appear on November 7 after the commission's decision on October 10. However, despite multiple attempts, the Ministry of the Interior has been unable to serve him the summons. Reports suggest Hidalgo has been residing in Botswana for a long period. The Senate is also seeking help from the Spanish embassies abroad, the Tax Agency, and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Seven attempts by the Balearic Parliament to have Hidalgo testify on a separate investigation concerning mask transportation have also failed.

🚩 Nuria Montes, the tourism councilor of the Valencian Community, publicly apologized for insensitive remarks towards the relatives of DANA disaster victims seeking morgue access. Criticism extends to Spanish President Sánchez for his alleged mishandling and politicization of the crisis. The calamity's negative impact on Valencia's tourism image, juxtaposed with top services and competitors, raises concerns. Political responses to the disaster are accused of deepening regional divisions and inequities in emergency management.

💸 Vicepresidenta Nadia Calviño and minister José Luis Ábalos were concerned about Air Europa requesting a government bailout after the Hidalgo family distributed €35 million in dividends just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Calviño knew Air Europa divided more in dividends than the previous year's profits. This distribution saw Juan José Hidalgo receive 51%, Javier Hidalgo 17%, sisters Cristina and María José 7% and 5%, brother Juan Antonio Hidalgo 9%, and Abel Matutes 5%. Despite this, Air Europa was granted a €475 million bailout rapidly, while other tourism businesses waited up to a year.

📋 Zurab Pololikashvili, Georgian and Secretary-General of the UN-affiliated World Tourism Organization (WTO) based in Madrid, is increasingly implicated in a corrupt scheme led by Víctor de Aldama and Koldo García. The Spanish Civil Guard suspects him as an intermediary post-pandemic in Aldama's business dealings, though not charged with a crime. He previously served as Georgia's ambassador to Spain, Andorra, Algeria, and Morocco, and held roles in finance and football. Pololikashvili's connections facilitated Aldama's appointment as honorary consul in Zamora, and he was involved in PCR testing contracts for COVID-19 at Madrid-Barajas Airport and Punta Cana hotels in May 2021, highlighting his influential networking.

📍 In November 2020, Air Europa received economic assistance from the Fondo de Apoyo a la Solvencia de Empresas Estratégicas amid COVID-19 crisis. Judge Ismael Moreno investigates the "Caso Koldo" with links to government connections and alleged corruption involving Air Europa's mask transportation. During negotiations, Víctor de Aldama was a board member and received €12,100 monthly from Air Europa. Globalia doubled mask transport prices from China to Spain, as reported by Baleares Anti-Corruption Office. The government of Armengol, also implicated, is under investigation.

💸 Víctor de Aldama proposed recovering Air Europa's €200 million debt from the Venezuelan government through petros, a cryptocurrency linked to Maduro's regime, implicated in corruption. Despite a €10,000 monthly fee plus a significant uncollected commission for resolving this dispute, Aldama's mediation was unsuccessful, leading Air Europa to seek advice from Latham & Watkins regarding potential U.S. repercussions. The airline's legal director, Ramiro Campos Gallego, expressed concern about accepting petros. Negotiations also considered oil compensation, involving President Nicolás Maduro, as revealed in May 2020 communications.