Critics of the government, including members of the opposition, argue that the secrecy surrounding the meeting between María Jesús Montero and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is deeply concerning. The fact that this encounter occurred just days before the sudden dismissal of a high-ranking minister suggests that major government decisions may have been influenced by informal, off-the-record channels rather than through transparent institutional processes. This lack of accountability is exactly what the public expects to be addressed in the wake of the Koldo corruption scandal.
For those skeptical of the government’s narrative, the meeting raises fundamental questions about the 'modus operandi' of the administration. If the meeting was purely routine, they ask, why was it kept off the official agenda and accessed through restricted routes? The timing suggests that Zapatero may have played a more significant role in the internal restructuring of the government than has been publicly acknowledged. This fuels public distrust, as it implies that power is being exercised by individuals outside of the formal cabinet structure.
Furthermore, the opposition argues that Montero has a duty to provide a full account of what was discussed. Given the ongoing investigations into corruption and the misuse of public funds, any interaction between key figures involved in past government decisions—such as the Plus Ultra rescue—must be subject to public scrutiny. The refusal to offer clear explanations only reinforces the perception that the government is hiding the extent of its internal dependencies and the true nature of its decision-making, which ultimately erodes the integrity of public institutions.