Spanish court asks to investigate former minister

MADRID (AP) — Spain's Supreme Court has asked parliament for permission to investigate a former Socialist minister who is a current lawmaker in relation to a suspected case of influence peddling.

Supreme Court judge Jose Ramon Soriano sent a formal request to parliament Friday asking it to allow him to open an investigation into Jose Blanco when he was development minister from 2009 to 2011 under then Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The judge says the court needs to ascertain if Blanco unlawfully used his influence as a minister to help a friend achieve business goals that could not have been possible otherwise.

The court needs parliament's permission to investigate an elected lawmaker. Blanco, who can appeal if parliament approves the request, has denied any wrongdoing.