Zapatero said that the Russian Gazprom "is neither nor shall" in Repsol

The chairman of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, yesterday cut the root of speculation about a hypothetical entry of the Russian state company Gazprom in the capital of Repsol YPF. In an interview on Cadena Ser, the Spanish president said that the debate had struck him. "I have enough knowledge of things to know that this has not been, nor is, or will be on the horizon of an initiative by Gazprom, nor indeed of Repsol." "I believe" he continued, "that was a statement that surprised us a lot, but I can assure you that nothing is real, nor has there been anything real. Disappear from the debate at the same speed that has appeared."

The controversy, triggered by the Russian deputy prime minister, Germany Xander Zhukov, who said in Madrid that Gazprom was considering the acquisition of 20% of Repsol-controlled construction company Sacyr Vallehermoso, was also suffocated from Gazprom itself. Two days after Zhukov's statements - made after a meeting with Industry Minister, Miguel Sebas-tian-Russian group's spokesman Sergei Kuprianov said that "Gazprom had no intention and no plans to buy 20% of the shares of the company Repsol. All comments are related to the fact that they want to sell this package, and not because someone wants to buy, which is not the same. "

For his part, the president of Criteria CaixaCorp - La Caixa is the second largest shareholder of Rep-sol-Ricard Fornesa, defended the "right" of Sacyr to sell. Next, and referring to Gazprom said: "We deny this operation as a real operation." Sources aware of the contacts of Sacyr mention, among the companies with which he has spoken to the Russian Lukoil and Rosnett.