The ex-commissioner Villarejo at the trial of the Erial case
This Thursday, former commissioner José Manuel Villarejo appeared as a witness in the trial of the Erial case, which investigates the alleged fraud of public contracts in exchange for subsidies by the former president of Valencia and minister of the PP, Eduardo Zaplana. In his statement, Villarejo pointed out to the former president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, to the former director general of the Police, Juan Cotino, and to the CNI to lead a political hunt against Zaplana for fear that he could contest the leadership politician of the popular party. In addition, he has stated that the police actions aimed at discrediting Zaplana began between 2010 and 2011, for reasons he has claimed he does not know. He also noted that he expressed his opposition to using bad arts in a meeting with the head colonel of the UCO in 2016.
Villarejo’s previous statements
In a commission of inquiry in the Congress of Deputies in 2021, Villarejo stated that the investigation of the Erial case was a set-up against Zaplana, and pointed out that a Syrian citizen, a confidant of the CNI, was used to find some documents in the flat that had been owned by Zaplana. This Thursday, he went one step further and stated that Rajoy “was obsessed” with ruining Zaplana’s political career to prevent him from overshadowing the PP, and as he detailed, he found Cotino – now dead – the best ally.
Rajoy’s intentions against Zaplana
Villarejo assured that the interest against Zaplana “was from Intelligence” and added that “surprisingly, there was more interest in his party than in the PSOE”. He also explained that between 2016 and 2017 he met on several occasions with the colonel head of the Central Operative Unit (UCO), Manuel Corbín, in which they talked about “various matters”, including Zaplana. He insisted that the number two of the UCO was “very linked to the CNI” and “gave instructions to Corbín”.
Conclusions of Villarejo’s statement
The statements of former commissioner José Manuel Villarejo at the trial of the Erial case have revealed his perceptions of the alleged political intentions against Eduardo Zaplana. This testimony has had a strong impact on the trial, highlighting the complexity and political tensions surrounding this case.
