Defenders of the government argue that meetings between senior party figures, including former prime ministers and current cabinet members, are a standard and necessary part of political governance. In a complex political environment, maintaining open lines of communication between experienced leaders and active ministers is essential for ensuring stability and strategic alignment within a party. From this perspective, the meeting between María Jesús Montero and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero should be viewed as a routine consultation rather than an act of impropriety.
Proponents of this view emphasize that there is no evidence suggesting the meeting was intended to facilitate illegal activity. They argue that the focus on this specific encounter is a distraction from the actual legal proceedings of the Koldo case. By framing a private conversation as a 'clandestine' event, critics are attempting to manufacture controversy where none exists. For the government, the priority remains addressing the challenges of the day, and seeking the counsel of a former leader is a common practice that does not inherently imply wrongdoing.
Furthermore, those supporting the administration point out that the dismissal of Ábalos was a decisive action taken by the Prime Minister to address political liabilities. If anything, the consultation between senior party members demonstrates a commitment to managing the party’s direction during a period of transition. The attempt to link this meeting to the broader corruption scandal is seen by supporters as a politically motivated effort to undermine the current leadership by casting doubt on their professional interactions.