The general elections on July 23 have also affected the plans of Juan Carlos I. A few days before the regional and municipal elections on May 28, the former head of state informed his son of his desire to visit Spain several times this year coinciding with the regatta calendar of the Sanxenxo Yacht Club (Pontevedra). That meant traveling to Galicia this week (although the race has been canceled due to a storm), the first days of July (7, 8 and 9), at the end of September (from 28 to 1), October (21 and 22) and November (25 and 26). As EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA has learned, the emeritus warned Felipe VI that in all these trips he would fly to Spain two or three days before.
The 23J thwarts next month’s regatta for the emeritus, who had already told his son that he wanted to travel to Sanxenxo the first week
The current King fit the announcement and he made a request: since general elections had to be held this year, he raised the need to avoid visiting Spain on those dates, campaign included. They were when the elections were. The objective of Felipe VI is that the monarchy does not become a thrown weapon between the political parties; trying to get the monarchy, which is going through a delicate moment, It’s not a campaign issue.
When Felipe VI made that comment to his father, it seemed like an expensive demand in the fall, at the end of the legislature. However, the poor result of the PSOE on Sunday 28M has led Pedro Sánchez to advance the generals for July 23. According to sources close to Juan Carlos I, the emeritus is going to follow the recommendation of his son and will not travel to Spain at the beginning of July.
The idea of Juan Carlos I was to arrive in Galicia two or three days before each race to enjoy his friends and a land that he likes and that has become his main nexus with the country of which he was head of state for almost 40 years. Juan Carlos I went to live in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) in August 2020 to distance himself from Felipe VI and try to ensure that the scandal over his fortune did not affect the monarchical institution.
a difficult relationship
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Juan Carlos I notified his son of his calendar of visits for the whole year, to avoid the discomfort that his trip in April caused in Zarzuela. On that occasion, Felipe VI found out about his visit through the media. ‘El Mundo’ announced the displacement of the emeritus to participate in a regatta, something that the Casa del Rey did not know. That visit, however, was much more discreet than the first (May 2022), something that the Casa del Rey has appreciated even though this has not meant a substantial improvement in the family relationship. Between that trip this April and now, Juan Carlos I has had to go out and comment on the information that he had a secret daughter named Alejandra, something that he has denied. The shocks in the Zarzuela are still common and almost always due to matters related to the former head of state.
The nautical title
Juan Carlos I is committed to training with the crew of the ‘Bribón’, because he is excited to revalidate the title of world champion in the 6 Meters competition that is going to be held at the end of August in the Isle of Wight (UK). And he wants to go sailing through the waters of Pontevedra because they are very similar, according to experts, to those he will find on the English island.