The Diplomat
The decision of the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office to shelve the proceedings into the foreign assets of King Juan Carlos I has facilitated his return to Spain from the United Arab Emirates. The emeritus monarch has been living in Abu Dhabi for 19 months, where he moved mainly so as not to interfere with the work of his son, King Felipe VI.
The opening of the investigations into the King emeritus was taken advantage of by the parties on the left, including Unidas Podemos, a partner in Pedro Sánchez’s government, to attack the monarchical institution.
The closure of the proceedings had been expected for some time and was finally made public yesterday in two decrees which conclude that there is no solid evidence of criminality against King Juan Carlos. The Public Prosecutor’s Office lists all the facts for which he has been investigated: the possible commissions for the AVE to Mecca, the alleged hidden fortune on the island of Jersey and the gifts he may have received from the Mexican billionaire Allen Sanginés-Krause.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office decided that Juan Carlos de Borbón could not be criminally prosecuted due to his inviolable status while he was head of state, the statute of limitations on the criminal acts, the tax regularisations he carried out and the lack of evidence of criminal offences in other cases.
After learning of the Prosecutor’s decision, the King’s lawyer, Javier Sánchez-Junco, stressed in a statement that “there are no circumstances that allow us to appreciate the existence of any offence attributable to King Juan Carlos or conduct that is susceptible to criminal reproach”. She also indicated that “next week, if necessary, the corresponding assessments will be made” about the file and “the decisions that King Juan Carlos may take” will be communicated.
The message from the Zarzuela is that the King Emeritus will return when he considers it appropriate. Juan Carlos has said on several occasions that he wants to return to Spain, but has not specified whether he will do so permanently or temporarily. Although judicially there was nothing to prevent him from doing so, as he was not indicted in any case, the decision of the Supreme Court favours his return.
