The Spanish monarchy is the institution given the worst rating by Catalans, even behind the Civil Guard. Now, for the first time, the Parliament of Catalonia has proposed undertaking an in-depth investigation of its " allegedly irregular or criminal activities linked to corruption, including those intended to force the moving of the registered headquarters of banks, large companies and multinationals out of Catalan territory".
Photo: Sergi Alcàzar
The motion to create the commission was passed with 71 votes in favour from the groups behind it: Junts per Catalunya, ERC, En Comú and CUP. They all defend the need to end the crown's impunity and opacity. Cs, PP and PSC all voted against the motion.
The monarchy under the microscope
The examination of the monarchy will have three branches. The first will put the focus on the role played by the king in the days after the 2017 independence referendum, when he reportedly urged large companies to leave Catalonia. The other two will focus on shedding light on the "structures of corruption linked to the Spanish royal family" and the "former head of state's alleged irregular accounts in Switzerland and other fiscal paradises in the name of third persons".
This latter idea stems, in part, from comments made last year by Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, an alleged lover of Juan Carlos I. Indeed, she will be one of those the commission will summons to testify, like police commissioner Villarejo.
Photo: Sergi Alcàzar
Explaining their motives for wanting the commission, the proposing parties denounced the inconsistency of the privileges the monarchy still enjoys, a monarchy which inherited power from Franco. CUP deputy Carles Riera, noted that, in 1975, Juan Carlos I swore the principles of fascism, promising loyalty to the national movement.
The pro-independence parties also want the commission as a form of "legitimate defence" against a monarchy that "legitimised the recent wave of repression which has culminated in an ignominious trial", Josep Costa (JxCat) said.
Photo: Sergi Alcàzar
"Long live the king"
Cs and PP argued against an idea they said came from "the separatists behind the coup against democracy". In the words of Matías Alonso (Cs), "a joke and an attack against the highest institution of the state". His party has urged prime minister Pedro Sánchez to appeal the motion to the Constitutional Court.
PP's leader in Catalonia, Alejandro Fernández, was even blunter, taking aim at pro-independence leaders: "They would love to be William Wallace. They have a psychological problem, they should manage their own frustrations and complexes. It isn't any conspiracy of the king. The reality is that, whilst on 3rd October [2017] they were urging on the masses, at the same time they went running to the banks to remove their money from Catalonia".
The pro-union parties ended with a shout of "Viva el Rey".