Former King Juan Carlos will return to Spain this week after almost two years in exile in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Spanish royal palace confirmed.
He left Spain after being investigated by the police and prosecutors for alleged involvement in corruption.
But three investigations against the 84-year-old former monarch were dropped in March, paving the way for his return to Spain.
The former king is due to arrive in Spain on Thursday.
He plans to spend time with his family in Sanxon, in the northwest of Spain, and it was announced that he will see his son, King Felipe VI in the capital, Madrid.
The visit is part of his "desire to regularly visit family and friends in Spain," according to a statement from the palace.
- The king's mistress and the spies who pursue her
- King Felipe of Spain renounces his father's inheritance
- The Spanish monarchy shaken by the secret Swiss wealth of Juan Carlos
In March, the former king sent a letter to his son in which he expressed his desire to return to Spain "at an appropriate moment" after the prosecutor's office suspended the investigation against him.
When the letter was released in March, the Spanish government said Juan Carlos owed the public an explanation for his economic moves.
Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years in power and handed over power to his son Felipe.
In June 2020, the Supreme Court of Spain launched an investigation due to suspicions that the former king was involved in corrupt practices related to the construction of a high-speed railway in Saudi Arabia.
The investigation also included his son-in-law, and it concerned a controversial elephant hunt the former king went on during the financial crisis.
Juan Carlos has denied any wrongdoing and said he is available to prosecutors if they want to question him.
But in August of that year, he traveled to the UAE, where he has lived ever since.
By abdicating, the king lost his immunity from prosecution.
Spanish companies received 6,7 billion euros for the construction of the Mecca-Medina railway.
About love and other affairs of Juan Carlos read more here.
The announced visit of the former king, i.e. his return to the country, was criticized by the far-left party Podemos, which is part of the coalition government.
Who is Juan Carlos
- He was born in Rome in 1938
- He came to the throne on November 22, 1975, two days after the death of the fascist dictator General Francisco Franco.
- Juan Carlos gained a lot of support because he led Spain on the democratic path
- However, after 39 years of rule, he found himself the target of many criticisms
- He abdicated on June 18, 2014, and was succeeded by his son Felipe
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