Former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, returned to his country, which he left in the shadow of corruption allegations, after about 2 years and only for 5 days.
The 84-year-old former King Juan Carlos, whose three corruption investigations in Spain were closed due to lack of evidence, came back with a personal visit to his country, which he left by his own decision in August 2020.
ARRIVED BY PRIVATE PLANE
The former king, who lives in the United Arab Emirates, entered Spain for the first time in 655 days, and went to the town of Sanxenxo in the Galicia region in the north of the country by a private plane.
It was reported that Juan Carlos, who was announced to participate in the Spanish Sailing Competitions held here, will stay at the house of his friend Pedro Campos, the president of the Sanxenxo Yacht Club.
It was also shared that Juan Carlos, who will spend the weekend here, will be accompanied only by his eldest daughter, Princess Elena, from the Royal Family.
Former King Juan Carlos will go to Madrid on May 23, spending a day with his son King Felipe VI, his other daughter Princess Cristina, his estranged wife Queen Sofia and grandchildren, and depart for Abu Dhabi in the evening of the same day.
GOVERNMENT WAITING FOR AN EXPLANATION FROM THE OLD KING
On the other hand, the visit of the former king was also on the main agenda of the country’s press and politics.
The Spanish press flocked to Sanxenxo to follow Juan Carlos, who returned to the country after about 2 years, to get a picture. It was noted that the former king will appear before the Spanish public for the first time after the corruption allegations against him in tomorrow’s sailing competition.
Partners in the coalition government asked Carlos to clarify the allegations against him.
While the government’s major partner, the Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), was a little more cautious, arguing that the visit was Juan Carlos’ personal preference and nothing to comment on, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, from PSOE, said: “It is a very important issue and all citizens. worthy of an explanation.” said.
A junior partner in the tougher government, the ultra-leftist alliance Unidas Podemos, claimed that the former king’s return was “an act of humiliation for the Spaniards”.
Yolanda Diaz, Minister of Labor and Social Economy, leader of the Podemos party, said: “I do not feel comfortable. For the dignity of the Royal Family, he should clarify what he did during his presidency, he should take responsibility.” he said.
Political parties operating in Catalan and Basque also criticize Carlos’s return, while right-wing parties continue to support the Royal Family.
Accusation of Corruption AFTER 39 YEARS OF PRESIDENCY
The 84-year-old former King Juan Carlos, who was the head of state in Spain for 39 years (1975-2014) and known for paving the way for the transition to democracy after the dictator Franco, abdicated the throne to his son Felipe on June 18, 2014, and then on June 2, 2019. He announced that he was ending all his official responsibilities within the Royal Family.
Juan Carlos, whose annual salary from the state budget was cut in June 2020 after corruption allegations, announced that he had decided to leave the country on August 3, 2020, following the investigations opened against him in Spain, and then went to the United Arab Emirates on the same date.
The only ongoing investigation into Juan Carlos currently is in the UK.
The London High Court had ruled that Juan Carlos’s immunity ended after he left his official position, paving the way for his ex-girlfriend, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, to be tried on charges of private life harassment and illegal stalking. (AA)