“Adel al-Jubeir, 58, the current Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, was the authority who allegedly endorsed the origin of the $100 million that was transferred to an account linked to Spain’s then-King Juan Carlos I in Swiss private bank Mirabaud. That’s according to documents from a probe in the latter country being carried out by the public prosecutor, and to which EL PAÍS has had access.” [1] “An outdated culture of allegiance, the opacity surrounding the Spanish monarchy and a Constitution that exempts our kings from any criminal responsibility sent the monarch the message that he was above the law. His immunity from prosecution, designed to give stability to the institution of the crown, was used to amass a fortune primarily through millions of dollars in presumed kickbacks from Arab dictators. ” [2]
Juan Carlos is under investigation in Switzerland and Spain for receiving 100 million euros from Saudi Arabia in 2008, a London flat valued at more than 62 million euros, a gift from the sultan of Oman, a $100 million paid by Kuwait as a reward for persuading the Spanish government to join to the coalition against Saddam Hussein during the first gulf war, and a briefcase containing nearly $1.9 million when the king returned from a Manama, Bahrain’s capital. [3]
Juan Carlos I enjoyed a constitutional immunity under the Spanish constitution since 1975, the year in which the dictatorship of Franco regime was over. We believe that when power is not accountable, it always tends to corrupt. It is a reputable presumption.
On August 4, 2020, Juan Carlos left Spain and headed to stay in Abu Dhabi. The Mail Online stated, ” Spain’s scandal-hit former King Juan Carlos, 82, is staying with his lover of 40 years in luxury Abu Dhabi hotel after fleeing Spain with just two suitcases of ‘essentials’, royal expert claims” [4] The international media covered this remarkable move of the King.
2011 Onwards: The Taboo is Over
The crises of the monarchy in Spain started in November 2011. Earlier, it was a taboo to discuss the monarchy scandals, especially those of the King, or the Royal Family affairs in the Spanish media. [5]
Accusations of Money Laundering
Juan Carlos faces serious criminal allegations of money laundering. “The German aristocrat claims that Juan Carlos pocketed over €80 million from a contract with Saudi Arabia for a high-speed train” [6]
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Is the King Above the Law?
“Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years as king following a corruption investigation involving his daughter’s husband and a controversial elephant hunting trip the monarch took during Spain’s financial crisis.” [7] The Spanish and Swiss authorities are currently investigating the allegations of corruption of the King. Prevalence of the rule of law is one of the ten principles of fighting corruption. [8] The revelations of the investigations shall determine the future of the Spanish monarchy institution.
NOTES
[1] El PAIS, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi diplomat who endorsed the $100m donation to Spain’s King Juan Carlos,JOSÉ MARÍA IRUJO, Apr. 5, 2020, Accessed on August 22, 2020, https://english.elpais.com/international/2020-04-05/adel-al-jubeir-the-saudi-diplomat-who-endorsed-the-100m-donation-to-spains-king-juan-carlos.html?rel=mas
[2] The New York Times, The Immoral Double Life of the Former King of Spain, David Jiménez, August 13, 2020, Accessed on August 22, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/13/opinion/king-juan-carlos-exile.html
[3] Ibid
[4] Mail Online, Spain’s scandal-hit former King Juan Carlos, 82, is staying with his lover of 40 years in luxury Abu Dhabi hotel after fleeing Spain with just two suitcases of ‘essentials’, royal expert claims, GERARD COUZENS, August 13, 2020, Accessed on August 24, 2020, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8622991/Spains-former-King-Juan-Carlos-lover-40-years-Abu-Dhabi-hotel-royal-expert-claims.html
[5] Read more on The monarchy, a journalistic taboo in Spain. The royal crises and the circumstantial crisis, Accesses on August 24, 2020, http://www.revistalatinacs.org/068/paper/975_Vigo/09_Ramosen.html
[6] Fortune, Royal Family In Trouble: Spanish Monarchy Mired In New Scandal, Cecilia Rodriguez, August 12, 2020, Accessed on August 24, 2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2018/08/12/royal-family-in-trouble-spanish-monarchy-mired-in-new-ugly-scandal/#6bacbe9b480a
[7] BBC News, Linda Pressly, The king, his lover – and the elephant in the palace, Accessed on August 24, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-53749630
[8] The American Anti-Corruption Institute (AACI), The Ten Principles of Fighting Corruption, https://blog.theaaci.com/an-anti-corruption-forum-the-10-principles-of-fighting-corruption/
