The controversy caused by the second visit of Juan Carlos I to Sanxenxo from his exile in Abu Dhabi does not go with the former president of the Government Mariano Rajoy. A regular in this Galician municipality, where he has had an apartment for more than 50 years, the former president has come to the town this weekend and has asked to “begin to normalize it” and that the King Emeritus can resume his stays in the area and their participation in the regattas as they did before 2020.
The low and discreet profile that the former head of state has been having since he landed in Galicia on Wednesday fits with this request from Rajoy, who clarified this Saturday that he has not had any meeting with Juan Carlos I since his arrival and has no intention of see it “because we are going to normalize this”.
Aware of the controversy that the visit arouses, the former Prime Minister has insisted: “I know that there are people who will say what they want, but you will understand that at this point in life it does not matter to me at all”. He has also said that this stay is “a sign of normality” that, in addition, “is good for Sanxenxo”, so that “there is no reason why whenever someone comes they insist on putting on the show”.
“What I would like is for this to normalize and not be seen as if it were a strange thing. He comes here, he comes to a regatta, he has been haggling all his life”, he pointed out, to immediately indicate that the Monarch “He has not done anything” and make his support clear: “As a neighbor, which I am, my house is in Sanxenxo, I am very happy that he comes here, I say it with absolute frankness”.
Rajoy also wanted to insist that King Juan Carlos “has been a great figure in the history of the 20th century” and has stopped to gloss over some of his contributions, especially his role during the Transition. Thus, he has insisted that “he has probably led the most important political event that has occurred in Spain, which was the transition from the previous Regime to a new one”, but he has also highlighted his role in promoting the Constitution and that, during his reign, Spain entered the European Union and the euro. It is “a management that is there”.
The former president made these statements during a pre-campaign act in which he wanted to take advantage of his visit to Sanxenxo to give his support to the mayor of the town, Telmo Martín (PP), who is running for re-election in the municipal elections in May. A mix between leisure and politics, he has accompanied the councilor and several members of his candidacy on a walk along a new hiking trail recently inaugurated in the parish of Dorrón, just one kilometer from the Nanín house where Juan Carlos I is staying with his friend Pedro Campos.
He has been accompanied, as usual, by his faithful friend José Benito Suárez Costa, president of the Port Authority of Marín and Ría de Pontevedra and husband of the former minister and former president of Congress Ana Pastor. Mariano Rajoy supports Telmo Martín because he has known him “for a long time”, they are friends and he believes that “he is a magnificent mayor”. In addition, as a result of his summer vacations and trips to the town, he has been able to verify his absolute dedication to the municipality and he feels “very proud to support him.”
The councilor has carried out this campaign act determined to seasonally adjust tourism in Sanxenxo – “We are not just sun and sand” – and has thanked Rajoy for the “very important” support. On the visit of King Emeritus, he has insisted, as in recent days, that “anyone who comes to Sanxenxo is always welcome” and “King Juan Carlos is one more person among all”. He has ruled out any possible encounter with him during his stay.
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