Juan Carlos I has granted a new interview to the French conservative newspaper Le Figaro where he once again criticizes Pedro Sánchez’s government: “With the current Government, things must not be easy for my son.” In the interview, he laments that the current Monarch does not have the institutional presence that he enjoyed at the head of the Crown: “For almost 40 years, I had a meeting every week with the Prime Minister; now these meetings are less frequent. In my time, the Foreign Minister also always had to accompany the King on his trips abroad.” And he adds, in a veiled reproach to his son: “Leonor should have more prominence.”
Juan Carlos I laments that although he is no longer king, he has to be careful with what he says and “measure every word,” however, both in his book Reconciliation, which was first published in France last year, and in his latest public appearances, he has launched multiple reproaches at the Government and his own son, Felipe VI. In his memoirs, the former head of state accuses Sánchez’s government of “rejoicing” in the “attacks” it receives. “Instead of protecting the State, working to protect its institutions for the prosperity and development of the country,” he states, “they weaken it.” Although in the letter he made public when leaving Spain in 2020 he stated that the move was due to his desire not to continue damaging the image of the Monarchy with “the public repercussion” of “certain events” of his “private life,” in his book he addresses his residence in Abu Dhabi as an imposition by the Government with the approval of the current Monarch. He also attributes to pressures from La Moncloa the decision of his son to withdraw, after the scandals, the public money allocation he received: “I suppose he also faced pressures from the Government.” “In that manhunt, I have proven to be easy prey,” laments the emeritus, who even says: “The Government turned these judicial investigations [against me] into a witch hunt, a moral trial that affected my entire reign and my political action.”
The emeritus king has starred in an intense European tournée these weeks. First, he traveled from his residence in the Emirates to Seville, to attend the inaugural bullfight of the season at the Maestranza, where he received a loud ovation; just a few days later he received an award for his memoirs at the French National Assembly, from where he moved to Sanxenxo (Pontevedra), to enjoy once again one of his hobbies: regattas. The awarding of the prize in France caused controversy among some finalists of the literary contest, who could not understand how such a controversial figure could receive a public tribute in a key place for French politics like the Assembly. “It seems strange that such a controversial figure in Spain is now going to receive an award at the National Assembly with the presence of the president,” they explained.
In his interview with the main French conservative newspaper, Juan Carlos I acknowledges that the ovation he received in Seville felt good, and demonstrates, in his opinion, that “the Spanish recognize what the monarchy is and what the institution represents.” “The bullfight is like hunting, now they want to ban it,” he laments. “However, it is a national festival,” he adds.
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In what seems to have been a brief meeting with the interviewer, Juan Carlos I delves into the still relevant role of the monarchy in the 21st century: “Although it is questioned in some countries, I still think the monarchy is good for the people. It provides stability; we do not change King or Queen every four years. It also embodies, and above all, the unity of the country. The King is above political parties, which means he can reign alongside any political party. There are 11 monarchies in Europe today, that means something,” he adds.
In his memoir book, the emeritus king wonders: “Will things change with a different Government? Would access to La Zarzuela be easier for me?” The Royal House itself had to clarify recently, after statements by the PP leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, demanding the return of Juan Carlos I, that the former head of state can return whenever he wants, but to do so “he should recover his tax residence in Spain.”