Spain king’s daughter summoned over financial crimes

MADRID – A Spanish court summoned King Juan
Carlos’ youngest daughter Cristina as a suspect
over tax and money-laundering crimes Tuesday, a
first for a direct relative of the monarch.
Cristina, 48, has been linked to the business affairs
of her husband, former Olympic handball player
Inaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for
alleged embezzlement of public funds.
The decision by a court in Majorca is a major blow
against the prestige of the 76-year-old Spanish
king, who became head of state after the death in
1975 of General Francisco Franco and helped guide
the country’s transition to democracy.
His popularity sliding because of royal scandals,
Juan Carlos appeared tired Monday as he presided
over a military parade while supported on crutches,
his first public appearance since undergoing an
operation to replace his left hip on November 21.
The judge in Majorca, Jose Castro, has been
investigating the corruption allegations against
Cristina’s husband since 2010. In summoning
Cristina, he overruled opposition by the public
prosecutor.
In his written ruling, the judge said he had decided
to hear Cristina’s testimony “about alleged tax and
money laundering crimes”, summoning her to
appear on March 8 as part of an investigation that
could lead to formal charges.
Manos Limpias, a litigious far-right pressure group,
lodged the suit against Cristina alleging tax evasion
and money laundering, although tax authorities have
not brought any charges and public prosecutors
have said there is no case to answer.
The judge in the Majorca court is investigating
allegations that Urdangarin and a former business
partner embezzled six million euros ($8 million) in
public funds via the Noos Institute, a charitable
foundation that he chaired.
Cristina was a member of the board of Noos and
with her husband jointly owned another company,
Aizoon, which investigators suspect served as a
front for laundering the embezzled funds.
The Majorca judge had summoned Cristina on
suspicion of corruption once before, in spring 2012,
but that decision was overruled following an appeal
by the prosecutor.
Juan Carlos is widely respected for his role in
Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of
Franco.
But his standing among Spaniards has been
damaged by the corruption scandal, and outrage
over a luxury African elephant-hunting safari he
took in 2012.
His health problems together with the scandals
have raised speculation about the future of his
reign.
The number of people with a high or very high
opinion of the king fell nine points over 2013 to 41
percent, according to a poll published on Sunday in
daily newspaper El Mundo.
The number of people wanting him to abdicate in
favour of Prince Felipe, 45, surged by 17 percent to
62 percent, according to the study by pollster Sigma
Dos carried out in late December.
Sixty-six percent had a positive view of the prince
and 56 percent thought he could improve the royals’
image if he took over.
General support for the monarchy as an institution,
however, fell below half to 49.9 percent, according
to the poll.
The royal palace and the king have firmly denied
any thoughts of an abdication.
“I want to express to you, as king of Spain, my
determination to continue the faithful fulfilment of
the mandate and the powers attributed to me,” the
king said in his annual televised Christmas Eve
address last month. (AFP)