The Crown negotiates with Juan Carlos to avoid his return to Spain

Philip VI knows that his father, Juan Carlos I, wants to return to Spain. At least, to spend Christmas. It is not a decision that the King Emeritus has taken in recent days, when he set in motion his regularization with the Treasury: it is something that he has been thinking about for some time, and that he brought to the attention of the Palace of Zarzuela. The current king, however, knows that he has to mark distances with his father. And, for that reason, he doesn't want him in Madrid... or even in Lisbon.

This is what sources very close to the Royal House assure LPO, who know about the relationship between Felipe VI and Juan Carlos I since the emeritus left Spain for Abu Dhabi. The former monarch never wanted to leave, and made it clear, from the first moment, that his intention was to return.

After September, it seemed that this intention had been put aside. Above all, after Zarzuela told him about the judicial developments in Spain and the pressure from both the press and the political parties, especially Podemos. Nevertheless, Juan Carlos I had not changed his initial position one iota: he wants to return to Spain. At least, for Christmas.

[Moncloa and Zarzuela prefer Juan Carlos outside of Spain despite the end of the judicial threat]

The sources contacted by this news outlet remind us that the former monarch's birthday is January 5th and that his intention is to be able to celebrate this event with his family. Moreover, Juan Carlos I does not renounce to live in a stable way in the Peninsula: "If it is not Spain, he would not mind Portugal, but his son does not want to [accept]."

Juan Carlos I does not renounce to live in a stable way in the Peninsula: "If it is not Spain, he would not mind Portugal, but his son does not want to [accept]."

In this sense, it should be noted that the Portuguese country was one of the initial bets of the Government as the final destination of the former monarch.

However, the president's opinion is no longer the same. Among other things, because it has seen the same problems that, for months now, Philip VI has been seeing in Portugal: "It is too close to the Spanish press ... and Galicia".

Philip VI sent Princess Elena to Abu Dhabi to convince her father

Such is Juan Carlos I's determination to return to Spain, despite his son's reticence, that Philip VI himself tried to persuade him otherwise through his sister, Princess Elena, whom he "sent to Abu Dhabi to try to appease him".

Elena de Borbón transmitted to the former monarch the same messages that have been conveyed to him from Zarzuela for months now: "He is told that to return means a wear and tear on the institution and on himself, as well as entailing risks that are unnecessary".

The position of the King Emeritus, however, did not change despite the visit of his daughter, and just a few weeks later he paid 678,000 euros to the Treasury as a preliminary step towards his return to Spain: "He is determined to return, he thinks that he will not be condemned and that fiscal regularization allows him to live in his country without problems".

Juan Carlos I is his father, but he knows he must defend the institution and that is his top priority now

Philip VI's opinion is, however, very different: "Juan Carlos I is his father, but he knows that he must defend the institution and that is his top priority now". In addition, the sources consulted conclude, "he does not want to subject his 82-year-old father to public pressure and judgment that could affect his health.