• Former Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero is under investigation for alleged influence peddling.
• The investigation pertains to a €53 million bailout for Plus Ultra airline amid COVID-19.
• This is the first time in Spain's history a former PM has been investigated for such allegations.
• Current PM Sanchez faces mounting pressure due to ongoing corruption scandals.
• Zapatero denies any wrongdoing and insists his activities were legal and transparent.

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has come under investigation for alleged influence peddling related to a €53 million bailout of the Plus Ultra airline, which occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The South China Morning Post reports that the National Court in Madrid has summoned Zapatero to testify due to suspicions of possible financial wrongdoing regarding the airline, which has links to Venezuelan investors.

The bailout was approved by the Sanchez government as part of a fund designed to aid strategic companies; however, it drew immediate scrutiny for the airline's modest operational scope and its ties to controversial Venezuelan business interests. This investigation marks a significant point in Spanish political history, as it is the first instance of a former prime minister facing such serious legal inquiries, according to Le Monde.

Zapatero, who served from 2004 until 2011 and has been an important figure within the Socialists, has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that all his public and private activities were conducted lawfully. "All of my public and private activities have always been conducted in full compliance with the law," he stated, as reported by NPR.

This development places additional pressure on current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, already navigating other corruption scandals linked to his family and allies. The investigation into Zapatero exacerbates the political turmoil within the Socialist party during a period marked by recent electoral defeats and growing public dissatisfaction, as highlighted by Le Monde and South China Morning Post.

Continuing controversies, including legal challenges faced by Sanchez's immediate circle, further complicate his leadership. The dissatisfaction with the Socialist party's handling of these issues may prove detrimental in upcoming national elections, emphasizing the stakes involved in the inquiry into Zapatero, as noted by NPR.