The Spanish public debate is focused on the possible return of retired King Juan Carlos I from exile in Abu Dhabi. The monarch is setting conditions, demanding the possibility to reside in the Zarzuela Palace, which is meeting resistance from the government and the far left. Meanwhile, the People's Party defends his legacy, emphasizing the king's role in the democratization process, while newly revealed secret documents concerning the February 23, 1981 coup attempt shed new light on the history of the monarchy.

Condition of Residence in Zarzuela

Juan Carlos I demands the possibility of returning to the royal palace, which is the main point of contention with the government.

Fiscal Consequences of Return

A permanent return to Spain would force the retired king to settle taxes on his enormous wealth accumulated abroad.

Declassification of 23-F Documents

New facts concerning the 1981 coup attempt are influencing the narrative about the monarch's historical role.

The discussion over Juan Carlos I's return to his homeland has gained momentum after five years of his stay in the United Arab Emirates. The monarch, who left Spain in 2020 amid financial scandals, has expressed a desire to return, but makes it conditional on the possibility of permanent residence in his former home – the Zarzuela Palace. As media reports, the retired king wants to "die in his own bed" and regain a status worthy of a former head of state. This demand has met with firm resistance from the government of Pedro Sánchez and representatives of the ruling coalition, who believe the presence of the former monarch in the official seat of the crown would violate the neutrality and image of the current king, Felipe VI. The situation is complicated by tax issues. A permanent return to Spain would force Juan Carlos to transfer his tax residence, which would entail taxation of his global wealth and donations, reaching in some cases up to 81 percent. On the political level, the leader of the People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, openly supports the return of the retired monarch, claiming his critics "are not up to his standards." In turn, the socialists of the PSOE accuse the opposition of putting the royal household in an awkward position and unnecessarily fueling a dispute in which the monarchy should not be involved in a partisan manner. Juan Carlos I played a key role in transforming Spain into a parliamentary monarchy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, including by thwarting a military coup attempt in 1981.Simultaneously with the debate about the king's future, declassified documents concerning the February 23, 1981 coup attempt (23-F) were published in Spain. The analysis of these files has become a pretext for reassessing the role of the elite and the military in those events. Juan Carlos I himself from Abu Dhabi insists on his historical justification, believing that history will ultimately do him justice for his services to democracy. Nevertheless, for many commentators, the lack of full transparency in his financial affairs and his lifestyle in Abu Dhabi remain obstacles to unconditional rehabilitation in the eyes of public opinion. „Al final van a tener que reconocer lo que hice. Voy a acabar ganando” (In the end they will have to recognize what I did. I will end up winning.) — Juan Carlos I

Mentioned People