King Emeritus Juan Carlos (i) aboard the Bribon during the closing ceremony of the 3rd regatta of the IV Spanish Cup 2022 in the 6m class on May 22nd, 2022 in Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). ©SailingShots by María Muiña Pho 22.05.2022©SailingShots by María Muiña Photography (Europa Press)
Today Felipe VI faces one of the most difficult encounters of his reign, that of meeting his own father, whom he has not seen for almost two years. The atmosphere surrounding this appointment is characterized by coldness and distrust on both sides. The stay of Juan Carlos I in Sanxenxo (Pontevedra) has caused deep concern in La Zarzuela, who would have preferred the King Emeritus’ first visit since his expatriation to Abu Dhabi on August 3, 2020 to have been discreet and rigorous and not a TV show. Dozens of cameras have followed Juan Carlos I every time he entered or left the house of his friend Pedro Campos or the Club Náutico, and the three-day regatta ended with the presentation of a prize to the king emeritus.
The Casa del Rey wanted to hold back the visit to La Zarzuela, which will take place at the end and not at the beginning of Juan Carlos I’s stay in Spain, as would have been logical both from a personal and institutional point of view. The Royal Family’s official agenda is empty for today. Casa del Rey has stressed that this is “a private family reunion” for which no coverage has been announced. Also who will attend the meeting. In the statement in which the Casa del Rey announced the visit of Juan Carlos I, he limited himself to indicating that Felipe VI, Queen Sofía and “other members of his family” will be present at the meeting (which is expected to be will include a meal ), without specifying . It could only be Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia as the Princess of Asturias is interned in Wales. The Kings’ Daughters and Froilán, son of the Infanta Elena, are the only ones who have not visited their grandfather in Abu Dhabi.
The Casa del Rey has only heard a single telephone call between Felipe VI in the 654 days that he left Spain. and reported to his father: the one they led on the 15th when the king traveled to Abu Dhabi on the occasion of the death of the chief Khalifa . Although they met in the same city, more than 5,000 kilometers from Spain, father and son could not see each other in person.
political division
After the visit to La Zarzuela, Juan Carlos I will travel back to Abu Dhabi on the private plane (a Gulfstream G-450 belonging to an Angolan corporate airline) that took him to Vigo on Thursday. It is expected to return to Sanxenxo for the 6mR Category Sailing World Cup, which will be held between June 10th and 18th.
The visit of the king emeritus has deepened the division of political forces in the monarchy. The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, asserted that there was no point in questioning that “a citizen who has nothing outstanding \[con la Justicia\] and has been King of Spain for decades, visit his country”. Those who do, he added, only intend to “challenge the head of state and the constitution.” reports Sonia Vizoso.
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On the contrary, Ione Balarra, Minister for Social Rights and Secretary General of Podemos, branded what was happening these days as a “humiliation for democracy”. “The fundamental problem is not the king emeritus and his corrupt dealings, the problem is that anyone who holds office can do the same thing as many times as they want,” he added.
According to the government delegation, around 300 people demonstrated yesterday in the center of Madrid, near the royal palace, against the monarchy and the trip of the king emeritus.