There is intense speculation in the Spanish media regarding the whereabouts of the embattled former King Juan Carlos after his shocking announcement of leaving the country. The King announced the move in a letter on the royal site, he was also subject to a corruption probe.
However, it further gave no information about his current whereabouts, but various other reports suggested that he has gone to the Dominion Republic. But the officials maintained that they had no clue about his arrival.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Caribbean country’s immigration service said that the King had not entered the territory despite the reports of his arrival on Tuesday. She further added that he had been there for a few days back in February.
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Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain said that he is not aware of the whereabouts of the King. Juan Carlos said in his letter if prosecutors need to speak or interrogate him, he would be available.
Last month, the country’s apex court initiated an investigation into his alleged involvement in the high-speed rail contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Political analysts have described this as the worst exit for a king who led the Spanish nation to democracy after the death of General France in 1975.
Carlos abdicated from the throne in 2014 and passed it on to his son Felipe. Since his announcement to settle abroad, every newspaper gives a different account of King’s travel. A local media agency reported that he left for Portugal on Monday and that he was planning to fly to the Dominion Republic to spend some time with his friends.
Another daily news outlet ABC said that he was already in Portugal. However, El Confidential reported that he could be in Portugal, Italy, or France. Meanwhile, the media in Portugal said that he was in the resort towns of Cascais or Estoril.
However, there were no confirmed reports about his presence in the Dominion Republic. In his letter on the royal website, Carlos said that he was leaving in the face of public repercussions because of certain events in his personal life and in the hope of allowing his son to carry out his duties as a king.
Meanwhile, the statement from the palace said that King Felipe had conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the former king for his decision. He also renounced the inheritance from his father in March. At that time, the palace also said that Juan Carlos would stop receiving the annual grant.
After the high-level cabinet meeting, the Spanish premier stressed on government’s absolute respect for Juan Carlos’s decision to relocate abroad. However, the move has caused political tension with the left-wing coalition partner of the Prime Minister, Podemos.
Spanish Equality minister, Irene Montero said that Podemos had not been aware of any negotiations between the government and the royal household. She further added that the departure of the king had left the royal family in a very delicate and critical situation as the Spanish people would not accept any more impunity and corruption.
Meanwhile, the country’s apex court has said that it aims to establish a connection between the former monarch with the Saudi Arabia contract after his abduction. Spanish firms won the deal to build the Makkah-Medina railway.
The probe also involves Swiss banks, too, as the anti-corruption officials believe that the former king had some undeclared assets in Switzerland.
