I confess: Juan Carlos was my hero. But that was quite a long time ago. I was 17 years old, living in Germany and just starting to get interested in politics, when the king, still young at the time, appeared on the TV screen.
It was February 23, 1981, when part of the Spanish army and police tried to carry out a coup d'état against the then still young democracy. Tanks were in the streets, parliament was occupied by coup plotters and the government was unable to act.
That's when the young king - whom everyone had underestimated until that moment - steps in front of the cameras in uniform and orders the soldiers to immediately return to the barracks. The coup failed the same night. He then saved Spanish democracy.
The central figure of successful changes
With the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain, in many countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the question arose of how to peacefully transition from an authoritarian system to democracy. Many eyes were then on Madrid. Spain has long been an example of successful changes, and Juan Carlos was their central figure.
But why am I enumerating all those old heroic deeds of Juan Carlos? Because, due to today's events and the king's misdemeanors, they have somewhat fallen into the shadows. Because the scale of this tragedy of going into exile is recognizable precisely on the basis of the discrepancy between the glorious past and the fall for which he himself is to blame. How could someone who started his monarchist career as a young and brave head of state, establishing and defending democracy, fall so low? "Human, too human", as Nietzsche would say. "Good material for my new royal tragedy," Shakespeare might have muttered.
Of course, the critics of the monarchy feel that their views have been confirmed after this infamous departure of Juan Carlos, which can and must be considered an escape from the Spanish judiciary. This is normal and good. Because no king can be above the law! Therefore, it would have been better if Juan Carlos had answered before the Spanish court and explained everything. In a modern democracy, this should be taken for granted.
As if no one could do anything to him
At one point, Juan Carlos began to act as if no one could do anything to him and that everything was allowed to him: telling Hugo Chavez to "shut up" in 2007, making safari tours and taking pictures next to a dead elephant that he had killed himself (2012 ), a whole series of sexual escapades that his wife, Queen Sofia, stoically endured. And now the current corruption affair, in which he is most likely involved.
Juan Carlos is increasingly becoming a sad figure - like the main character in the works of Miguel de Cervantes. Like someone who long ago left the best times behind and is now just sulking. Long overrun by a world he no longer understood and whose changed demands from a monarchy (if he still wants one at all) he could not or would not fulfill.
It's Sam's fault
In one of the last photos taken in Spain, Juan Carlos sits sad and forlorn in the passenger seat of his car. He looked blankly. Does he realize that he lost his place of honor in the history books? And that he himself is to blame? Yes, I admit I'm sorry in a way. But he should only have his own mistakes to thank for his downfall.
And I'm left with only a sad realization: aging heroes almost never left a good impression.
Bonus video:
