Businessman Víctor de Aldama claims that the interim Venezuelan leader might have shared compromising information about Spanish socialism
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The investigation conducted by the National Court into the so-called "hydrocarbons case" continues to expand its political and international scope after the statement by businessman Víctor de Aldama, who told the judge that he had personally received an envelope from the hands of the interim Venezuelan dictator Delcy Rodríguez, linked to the state oil company PDVSA and containing sensitive information that would affect PSOE and the Socialist International.
According to legal sources, Aldama stated that the content of the envelope referred to irregular movements of funds related to the hydrocarbons sector.
The documentation, now incorporated into the case, is part of the investigation into alleged irregular financing and influence peddling surrounding a business network with political ramifications.
Delcy Rodriguez habría entregado pruebas acerca de financiación clandestina del PSOE
Although the businessman tried to dissociate these events from the company Villafuel, the central focus of the proceedings, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office insisted on questioning him about a highly likely opaque financing of PSOE.
During his appearance, Aldama avoided detailing the content of the envelope and raised the possibility of negotiating with the Public Prosecutor's Office to provide further information, a stance that increased the judicial relevance of the material and the suspicions about its political scope.
The Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard had already warned in previous reports about the existence of this documentation, considered "sensitive" and originating from the PDVSA environment.
Investigators indicate that Aldama handed the envelope to Luis Alberto Escolano, a person of maximum trust, for safekeeping. An image included in the case file shows a receipt stamp from the Venezuelan official, dated February 4, 2020, which reinforces the direct connection with the Venezuelan regime and lends credibility to the businessman's testimony.
Luis Alberto Escolano, testaferro de Víctor de Aldama
In his statement, Aldama also mentioned a meeting held with Ángel Víctor Torres, then president of the Government of the Canary Islands and current Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, as well as with Koldo García, a former ministerial adviser.
According to his explanation, the meeting aimed to address the obtaining of tax warehouses in the Canary Islands, an operation in which businessman Manuel Salles, another of those under investigation, also took part. Although Aldama claimed that the arrangement did not succeed and denied links with Villafuel, the appearance of high-ranking Socialist officials once again places PSOE at the center of the case.
Aldama's appearance is part of a key week of statements before the National Court. Among those summoned are former chiefs of staff of former Socialist ministers Reyes Maroto and Teresa Ribera, as well as senior officials from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and other businessmen involved.
Víctor de Aldama declaró que funcionarios del gobierno socialista se reunieron para discutir la obtención de depósitos fiscales en Canarias
For the Civil Guard, the network managed to penetrate several ministries during PSOE governments, taking advantage of its proximity to political power.
In its latest report, UCO identifies Víctor de Aldama and Claudio Rivas as the alleged leaders of the investigated network, emphasizing that both shared control and decision-making within the scheme.
Agents highlight Aldama's direct access to the circle of the then minister José Luis Ábalos, a relationship that would have been decisive in attempts to obtain administrative authorizations for Villafuel to operate in the wholesale hydrocarbons market despite not meeting legal requirements.
The Civil Guard suspects that these licenses would have been negotiated in exchange for financial considerations, which reinforces the seriousness of the accusations. The investigation points to a network with deep political and business connections that calls into question the transparency narrative of the Government of Pedro Sánchez.
El gobierno socialista de Pedro Sánchez suma un nuevo caso de corrupción
