Juan Carlos saved his son Felipe, a difficult decision. The retired king said Monday night in a brief letter that he will leave Spain. The allegations of corruption against him had increased in the past few weeks, the political pressure on Felipe to escape his father’s residence and the king’s title, to preserve the Spanish monarchy from further damage. Almost daily new details about Juan Carlos were known to have exploited his position as a Monarch, in order to enrich themselves. It comes to bribery and tax evasion in the millions.
Hans-Christian Rößler
Political correspondent for the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb, with its headquarters in Madrid.
F. A. Z.
With the words: “your Majesty, dear Felipe” starts from the king’s house on the evening of published Writing: “With the same zeal to serve Spain, has inspired my reign, and in view of the public impact of certain events of the past to live on my private, I would like to Express to you my full willingness to facilitate the exercise of their functions to contribute,” writes Juan Carlos.
to identify A gift of 65 million euros
He plays, among other things, on the announcement of the Supreme court in Madrid, against him because of alleged kickbacks for the construction of the high-speed line from Medina to Mecca by a Spanish consortium of companies. According to the findings of the Swiss Prosecutor’s office of the Saudi king Abdullah in 2008 should be transferred to the Geneva account of a Foundation of the king’s $ 100 million. The sum of remained, apparently, is not long in the account. In the course of the Swiss investigation of the lawyer of the German business had Sayn wife Corinna to-Wittgenstein confirmed that they have received in 2012 an “unsolicited gift” from Juan Carlos, was transferred from the Geneva account. Of the then reigning Monarch have to make it up to you to show that the German, which he once described as his “intimate friend”, have him standing in the health of difficult times beige. In press a total of 65 million euros will be called reports. The Spanish investigations concern only the period after 2014, when Juan Carlos had abdicated the throne, and thus his immunity from prosecution lost.
In Madrid, the claims of government politicians, king Felipe should distance themselves even more from his father, who had retired a year ago from the Public increased. Even Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed himself in this sense. In March, Felipe had already announced to forego his inheritance. In addition, he eluded his father, the annual appanage in the amount of almost € 200,000. Felipe’s position was becoming more and more difficult, because many Spaniards revere, Juan Carlos because of its important role in the development of democracy after the years of the Franco dictatorship.