By David Latona
MADRID, May 19 (Reuters) - Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is being investigated by the High Court for allegedly leading an influence-peddling and money-laundering network, in another blow to the leftist government beset by corruption scandals.
The court said on Tuesday the network allegedly led by Zapatero profited from lobbying public authorities on behalf of third parties - mainly Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which was bailed out by the state in 2021.
Zapatero, a key ally of current Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, denied any wrongdoing in a video message later on Tuesday, saying: "I want to reaffirm that all my public and private activity has always been carried out with absolute respect for the law."
His office and three other premises were searched on Tuesday by the police's anti-corruption task force, the court said.
The former premier has been summoned to testify on June 2, it added.
The case puts more pressure on Sanchez, who is already dogged by a corruption investigation into alleged kickbacks paid out to key members of his inner circle, as well as probes involving his wife and his brother.
Zapatero led Spain from 2004 to 2011 and oversaw landmark policies such as withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq and legalising same-sex marriage. He is the first Spanish prime minister to be formally investigated by the judiciary since the transition to democracy.
PLUS ULTRA CASE
In a statement, the court said the alleged scheme sought to influence the approval of 53 million euros ($62 million) in public aid to Plus Ultra through Spain's solvency support fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investigating judge Jose Luis Calama found indications that the network used shell companies, simulated documents and opaque financial channels to hide the origin and destination of funds amounting to 1.95 million euros.
Payments and contracts linked to Plus Ultra and other companies were channelled through a corporate network controlled by an intermediary, the court said. Funds later reached Zapatero and a company linked to his daughters, it added.
Government spokesperson Elma Saiz told reporters the cabinet was following the case with "calm, confidence and fundamental respect for a principle that underpins our legal system: the presumption of innocence".
She said the probe followed a complaint filed by the far-right group Manos Limpias ("Clean Hands"), which is also a plaintiff in corruption cases linked to Sanchez.
The Socialist Party said Zapatero pioneered progressive policies and the right and far right had never forgiven him for this.
The conservative opposition People's Party has repeatedly criticised Zapatero's post-politics business ties in Venezuela.
The PP on Tuesday described Zapatero as Sanchez's "muse".
"Both have used their families to enrich themselves and both have denigrated the institution they represent or have represented," it said in a statement.
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(Reporting by David Latona; Additional reporting by Emma Pinedo and Javi West Larrañaga; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Hugh Lawson)
