Former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero defended his "decency and honesty" on Wednesday after making an unprecedented court appearance on suspected influence peddling, the latest corruption affair threatening the leftist government.
The investigation into the Socialist titan comes as a string of graft probes into Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's family and former top political allies have threatened to topple his minority coalition.
Clashes with US President Donald Trump and virulent criticism of Israel have made Sánchez a global progressive star but the scandals have eroded the domestic standing of one of Europe's few remaining Socialist leaders.
Zapatero, who governed Spain from 2004-2011, was placed under formal investigation last month for alleged influence peddling in connection with the bailout of small airline Plus Ultra in 2021.
Plus Ultra received €53 million of public money after the COVID-19 pandemic paralysed global travel.
