Ex-CEO of Plus Ultra Says Firm Hired 'Zapatero Group' to Push for Bailout
Plus Ultra is an airline company in Spain.
The company got a big loan from the government during Covid.
This loan is called a bailout.
A state fund called SEPI gave the money.
The former boss of Plus Ultra spoke to a judge.
He said the company paid a group of people.
This group is called the 'Zapatero group'. Zapatero was once the leader of Spain.
The ex-boss said the group helped get the loan.
He said they wanted to pressure SEPI.
Pressure means to push someone to do something.
The company agreed to pay 1% of the loan money to this group.
A judge is now looking at this case.
The judge wants to know if this was legal.
Vocabulary15 words
- bailout
- money given to help a company that has money problems
- state fund
- money kept by the government to help companies
- pressure
- to push someone hard to do something
- judge
- a person who decides about the law in court
- loan
- money you borrow and must give back
- former
- someone who had a job before, but not now
- boss
- the leader of a company
- group
- a number of people together
- case
- a problem that goes to a court
- legal
- allowed by the law
- government
- the people who run a country
- airline
- a company that flies planes
- pay
- to give money for something
- money
- what you use to buy things
- leader
- a person who is in charge
Quiz
Answer key
1. An airline 2. The 'Zapatero group' 3. 1%
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Plus Ultra is an _____ company in Spain.
The company got a big _____ from the government during Covid.
This loan is called a _____.
A _____ called SEPI gave the money.
The former _____ of Plus Ultra spoke to a judge.
He said the company paid a _____ of people.
This group is called the '_____ group'.
The ex-boss said the group helped get the _____.
He said they wanted to _____ SEPI.
The company agreed to pay _____ of the loan money to this group.