Leonor González Pano has provided testimony in Spain's Supreme Court indicating that her ex-partner, Víctor de Aldama, informed her about alleged kickbacks related to the government’s 475 million euro bailout of Air Europa.

During her appearance, which marked her second testimony in the ongoing investigation, González Pano affirmed that it was de Aldama who first disclosed these details to her.

The Supreme Court's presiding judge, Leopoldo Puente, summoned González Pano following the release of an audio recording in which she acknowledged these events.

In this audio, González Pano stated that 500,000 euros were allegedly paid to then-Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to facilitate the bailout, with the funds supposedly collected by de Aldama at a residence in Puerta del Hierro and delivered to her former boss in a sports bag.

While providing her statements, González Pano clarified that she does not maintain any current relationship with de Aldama and limited her claims to what he had reportedly told her about the transaction.

She corroborated that these claims were shared with her mother, Carmen Pano, indicating that Aldama also communicated these matters to her.

Under questioning, González Pano indicated uncertainty regarding whether there were additional supposed payments but mentioned that de Aldama had relayed that during a meeting with Juan José Hidalgo, the owner of Air Europa, it was suggested that more funds would be acquired than what he was set to receive for the rescue.

Furthermore, she implicated Hidalgo's chauffeur, whom she has known since she was 19, as a source of information.

González Pano also referred to a meeting supposedly held at Madrid's Barajas Airport that involved Hidalgo.

According to the chauffeur, Hidalgo left the meeting 'very angry' as he expected the Minister of Transport, Ábalos, to attend.

The meeting was reportedly aimed at discussing the transfer of Terminal 1 at the airport to Air Europa.

The significance of González Pano's testimony has drawn attention from both the defense of the former minister and the attorney representing the Popular Party, which is involved in the case.

Both parties requested her re-examination in order to verify the claims made during her audio recording.

González Pano previously testified alongside her mother in March, during which her mother claimed to have delivered 90,000 euros to the PSOE headquarters in February 2020 at de Aldama’s request.

In earlier rulings, Judge Puente underscored the necessity of obtaining critical, factual evidence in this complex investigation, which involves severe allegations.

He decided against calling Hidalgo and Koldo García, de Aldama's associate, as witnesses or defendants at this stage, pending the results of González Pano's further testimony.

Despite the high court's refusal to delve into the specifics of the bailout, which has been classified as a political decision by the government, the focus remains on the alleged benefits Ábalos received in connection with the rescue operation.

Reports suggest that the investigation includes potential irregularities regarding a luxury rental arrangement for Ábalos during the summer of the bailout, which may have been financed through the alleged kickbacks.

Investigators from the UCO are exploring the possibility that Javier Hidalgo was closely tracking the developments in Moncloa regarding the bailout, and recent communications indicated a state of urgency on Hidalgo's part to unblock the aid.

According to recordings examined by authorities, de Aldama mentioned that Hidalgo was willing to reach out to Begoña Gómez, the spouse of Spain's Prime Minister, in an effort to expedite the process.