THE TELEGRAPH: The former Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, is facing accusations that he used £2 million of public funds in an attempt to "buy" the US Congressional Gold Medal.
The Conservative premier, who held office between 1996 and 2004 during which time he supported the US-led war in Iraq, is under investigation for claims he hired lobbyists to push US lawmakers to award him their highest civilian honour.
Spain's national Court of Auditors announced it would investigate whether payments made to Washington law firm Piper Rudnick during Aznar's term in office constituted wrongdoing.
Mr Aznar authorised 2.3 million euros in payments to the lobbyists ostensibly to "assist the Government of Spain in closer relations with the United States".
But it is alleged that the primary aim was to run a PR campaign that would secure the highest recognition for the Spanish leader with the award of Congressional Gold medal. >>> Fiona Govan in Madrid | Wednesday, March 31, 2010
