London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 01, 2025

Pressure mounts on Spain to pursue ex-king on corruption charges

Pressure mounts on Spain to pursue ex-king on corruption charges

SPAIN’S former king Juan Carlos is believed to have taken up residence in the United Arab Emirates following his secretive departure from Spain last week. The trip, which also forced him to resign as honorary president of the World Wildlife Fund-Spain, was paid for by an adviser to the Saudi monarchy linked in the Panama papers to offshore companies set up for tax-evasion purposes.

Spanish media have published images of him in the Gulf state.

Knowledge of his whereabouts will intensify pressure on Spanish authorities to pursue investigations into alleged criminal behaviour that includes money-laundering and bribery relating to a Saudi construction contract.

Catalan President Quim Torra said that allowing Juan Carlos to flee “casts doubt on the commitment of the government to fight corruption,” while the Communist Party of Spain said the crisis strengthens the case for a renewed Spanish republic.

“Democracy to Spain was brought by the Spanish people that maintained the anti-Franco resistance,” it said, “not a family who inherited the leadership of the state by decision of a dictator.

“[It] will not be complete until our people can elect all the representative institutions, including the head of state,” the party warned, adding that the command of the armed forces by an unelected head of state was doubly dangerous since there was no “constitutional mechanism by which the head of the armed forces can be held accountable.”

The ex-monarch, who ascended the throne on the death of fascist dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, was forced to abdicate in 2014 following an embezzlement scandal involving his daughter and the exposure of an elephant-hunting trip he had taken to Botswana in 2012, when Spain was implementing harsh austerity measures that had provoked an evictions crisis. The trip, which also forced him to resign as honorary president of the World Wildlife Fund-Spain, was paid for by an adviser to the Saudi monarchy linked in the Panama papers to offshore companies set up for tax-evasion purposes.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
×