A Spanish government minister who served as a close confidant to the prime minister is reported to have received complimentary accommodation at a luxury Marbella villa in exchange for his involvement in securing a financial rescue package for an airline, according to a police investigation.
José Luis Ábalos (in main file image), who previously held the post of transport minister and was a prominent figure in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s PSOE-led coalition government, is said to have enjoyed the villa stay following his support for a €475 million bailout of Air Europa. This is outlined in a report from the Guardia Civil, according to Spanish media.
Ábalos, who continues to serve as a member of parliament, is currently facing a criminal probe linked to several major corruption cases, including the controversial state aid provided to Air Europa, which was authorised by Sánchez’s government in November 2020. ALSO READ: Former Spanish transport minister denies corruption allegations in court.
Included in the police report are multiple WhatsApp exchanges concerning the Marbella property, where Ábalos vacationed for 11 days in August 2020.
The messages were between Ábalos and his then-adviser Koldo García, who is also under investigation and denies any corruption. In one message, García shared photos of the villa with Ábalos and wrote: ‘I’m telling you, this is free for the inconvenience caused.’
Investigators found that the day after Ábalos issued a press release regarding the airline’s bailout, García’s wife, Patricia Uriz, signed a contract agreeing to pay €9,800 for the villa rental. Uriz, like her husband, denies any wrongdoing.
The report asserts that Ábalos held a ‘relevant and responsible role in the criminal organisation’. Ábalos, who served as a minister from 2018 to 2021, has rejected all accusations of misconduct.
Submitted to Spain’s supreme court, the report also details suspected irregularities involving the employment of two of Ábalos’s former romantic partners in government positions. One of the women is said to have received a rent-free apartment in central Madrid. ALSO READ: Opposition party’s ‘Corruption Island’ video angers Dominican Republic.
The Air Europa case has also entangled Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Sánchez, who is herself the subject of a separate investigation into alleged corruption and influence peddling. The report mentions that Javier Hidalgo, then CEO of the group owning Air Europa, allegedly contacted Gómez in connection with the airline’s financial rescue.
When asked in court about meetings related to the bailout – in which Gómez was said to have been involved – Hidalgo claimed he could not recall them.
A judge is examining possible connections between Gómez and the bailout process. At the time, she was in touch with Hidalgo, whose father owns Air Europa. The government contends that her communication with him was due to her role as director of the Africa Centre at the Instituto de Empresa University. ALSO READ: Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish PM, denies wrongdoing in graft investigation hearing.
Public attention turned sharply to the issue last year when Sánchez unexpectedly announced a five-day pause from his duties to reflect on his political future after his wife came under judicial scrutiny. Ultimately, he chose to remain in office and pledged to combat what he described as a wave of misinformation ‘muddying’ the political landscape in Spain. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez announces his decision to continue as Spanish prime minister.
Gómez has denied any illicit conduct. Sánchez and the PSOE have consistently dismissed the allegations, characterising them as part of a smear campaign orchestrated by the right-wing opposition targeting his vulnerable minority government.
ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s brother David Sánchez quits state role after judge suggests it was ‘created for him’.
ALSO READ: PSOE suspend ex-minister Ábalos, who will now serve as an independent MP.
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La UCO acaba de confirmar la noticia que adelantamos en @TheObjective_es hace meses sobre el veraneo de Abalos en un chalet contiguo a un puticlub en Marbella. Lo pagó Air Europa, y por eso fueron a visitarle javier Hidalgo y Aldama.
— Ketty Garat (@KettyGarat) April 9, 2025
👇👇👇https://t.co/IaC3GEcRLy
La Guardia Civil apunta que el exministro José Luis Ábalos pudo ser recompensado por el rescate público de Air Europa.
— Telediarios de TVE (@telediario_tve) April 9, 2025
🎙 Ana Martín / Cristina Blach
▶ https://t.co/naWgyi5WCX pic.twitter.com/vnofsqmhTA
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