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| Princess Cristina of Spain Is Charged in Corruption Case | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MADRID — The Spanish monarchy was dragged deeper into a corruption case on Wednesday when Princess Cristina was charged with tax fraud and money laundering by a judge investigating whether her husband and business associates embezzled millions in public funds earmarked for sports events. | MADRID — The Spanish monarchy was dragged deeper into a corruption case on Wednesday when Princess Cristina was charged with tax fraud and money laundering by a judge investigating whether her husband and business associates embezzled millions in public funds earmarked for sports events. |
| The royal household had hoped to contain the scandal to the princess’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, who has been at the heart of the corruption investigation. | The royal household had hoped to contain the scandal to the princess’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, who has been at the heart of the corruption investigation. |
| The charges come less than a week after Cristina’s brother ascended to the throne as King Felipe VI, succeeding his father, King Juan Carlos I. In his proclamation speech in Parliament on Thursday, Felipe VI promised lawmakers integrity and transparency, as part of “a renovated monarchy for a new time.” Neither his sister Cristina nor his father Juan Carlos attended the ceremony in Parliament. | The charges come less than a week after Cristina’s brother ascended to the throne as King Felipe VI, succeeding his father, King Juan Carlos I. In his proclamation speech in Parliament on Thursday, Felipe VI promised lawmakers integrity and transparency, as part of “a renovated monarchy for a new time.” Neither his sister Cristina nor his father Juan Carlos attended the ceremony in Parliament. |
| Cristina and her husband have denied wrongdoing in previous court appearances and are expected to appeal the latest charges. | Cristina and her husband have denied wrongdoing in previous court appearances and are expected to appeal the latest charges. |
| The investigation has already lasted three years and has been led by José Castro, a judge based in Palma, on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. It has centered on whether Mr. Urdangarin used his royal credentials to secure inflated sports contracts from regional politicians for a foundation that he chaired, and then siphoned off millions to send to companies and offshore accounts that he and his business associates controlled. | The investigation has already lasted three years and has been led by José Castro, a judge based in Palma, on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. It has centered on whether Mr. Urdangarin used his royal credentials to secure inflated sports contracts from regional politicians for a foundation that he chaired, and then siphoned off millions to send to companies and offshore accounts that he and his business associates controlled. |
| Judge Castro filed fraud charges against 16 people on Wednesday, including Mr. Urdangarin, Diego Torres, his main former business associate, and several officials from the regional governments of the Balearic Islands and Valencia, which awarded the suspicious sports contracts. No date has yet been set for the start of the trial. | Judge Castro filed fraud charges against 16 people on Wednesday, including Mr. Urdangarin, Diego Torres, his main former business associate, and several officials from the regional governments of the Balearic Islands and Valencia, which awarded the suspicious sports contracts. No date has yet been set for the start of the trial. |
| In a 167-page filing, Judge Castro said there was sufficient evidence that Cristina profited personally and helped her husband with his suspect business activities. Mr. Urdangarin faces six separate sets of charges, relating to fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement of public money. | |
| Mercedes Coghen Alberdingk-Thijm, a former field hockey player who led Madrid’s failed bid to host the Olympic Games, was also among those formally charged by Judge Castro for fraud and misappropriation of public funds. | Mercedes Coghen Alberdingk-Thijm, a former field hockey player who led Madrid’s failed bid to host the Olympic Games, was also among those formally charged by Judge Castro for fraud and misappropriation of public funds. |
| The royal household has long tried to distance itself from Mr. Urdangarin, who has denied that his wife and other members of the royal family had any direct involvement in the management of his foundation, the Nóos Institute. Mr. Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player, became the Duke of Palma in 1997 upon marrying Cristina. | The royal household has long tried to distance itself from Mr. Urdangarin, who has denied that his wife and other members of the royal family had any direct involvement in the management of his foundation, the Nóos Institute. Mr. Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player, became the Duke of Palma in 1997 upon marrying Cristina. |
| Earlier this month, King Juan Carlos, 76, said his surprise decision to abdicate in favor of his 46-year old son was motivated by a desire to allow the next generation to “move to the front line.” | Earlier this month, King Juan Carlos, 76, said his surprise decision to abdicate in favor of his 46-year old son was motivated by a desire to allow the next generation to “move to the front line.” |
| However, the monarchy’s problems have stretched beyond the inquiry into Mr. Urdangarin’s business dealings. Juan Carlos’s own popularity had already slumped as a result of his own misjudgment. In April 2012, the king was forced to issue an unprecedented apology after going on an African elephant-hunting vacation that was seen as an affront to Spanish citizens enduring belt-tightening in a recession. | However, the monarchy’s problems have stretched beyond the inquiry into Mr. Urdangarin’s business dealings. Juan Carlos’s own popularity had already slumped as a result of his own misjudgment. In April 2012, the king was forced to issue an unprecedented apology after going on an African elephant-hunting vacation that was seen as an affront to Spanish citizens enduring belt-tightening in a recession. |
| Royalists are hoping that Felipe VI, who has been personally untainted by the recent royal scandals, will help restore the image of the monarchy. | Royalists are hoping that Felipe VI, who has been personally untainted by the recent royal scandals, will help restore the image of the monarchy. |
| Separately, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Monday that within about 15 days Juan Carlos would be granted a special protected legal status because, under Spain’s Constitution, only the head of state is guaranteed full legal immunity. The special status, which is also granted to some other public officials and retired lawmakers, will ensure Juan Carlos could be tried only by the country’s highest courts. | Separately, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Monday that within about 15 days Juan Carlos would be granted a special protected legal status because, under Spain’s Constitution, only the head of state is guaranteed full legal immunity. The special status, which is also granted to some other public officials and retired lawmakers, will ensure Juan Carlos could be tried only by the country’s highest courts. |
| The move comes after El Confidencial, a Spanish publication, recently reported that Albert Solá Jiménez, a Catalan who has long claimed that Juan Carlos is his father, was renewing his efforts to file a paternity lawsuit, citing both Mr. Solá and his lawyer. Two years ago, a Belgian woman, Ingrid Sartiau, also alleged that Juan Carlos was her father. | The move comes after El Confidencial, a Spanish publication, recently reported that Albert Solá Jiménez, a Catalan who has long claimed that Juan Carlos is his father, was renewing his efforts to file a paternity lawsuit, citing both Mr. Solá and his lawyer. Two years ago, a Belgian woman, Ingrid Sartiau, also alleged that Juan Carlos was her father. |