Images of King Juan Carlos and King Felipe of Spain were set alight at the weekend as a protest against the country’s monarchy took place in Madrid. The gathering, which involved several hundred people, came as a new poll for a newspaper showed most people are against the decision of Juan Carlos to leave Spain as investigations into allegations of corruption continue.
The protest is the latest in a series of anti monarchy demonstrations this summer. During several stages of their tour around Spain showing support for the economy and tourism in the wake of lockdown, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were greeted by small groups demanding an end to the monarchy.
At the weekend, the paper El Mundo ran a poll on whether King Juan Carlos should have left Spain. The King Emeritus announced his intention to quit on Monday, August 3rd 2020, having already left the country.
Almost two thirds of respondents, 63.3%, said the former monarch shouldn’t have gone with 27.7% saying he made the right decision. When asked whether he should face justice, 80% said yes. The poll also asked whether respondents believed he had been important in moving the country from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to democracy with 62% saying he had and 24% saying he played ”little or no” part in the transition.
King Juan Carlos has been under investigation over allegations he hid money that came to him via a rail contract in Swiss bank accounts. His lawyers have said he will co-operate with all inquiries. However, no formal accusations or charges have been brought.
Juan Carlos ruled Spain from November 1975 until June 2014 when he abdicated in favour of his only son, Felipe VI. He was named as heir to the Spanish throne by Franco who believed he would continue his dictatorship. Instead, Juan Carlos supported the swift movement of Spain to democracy. However, protesters against his rule, including some of those on the streets of Madrid this weekend, question his legitimacy because he was made king by Franco.
