King Felipe VI meets with several former presidents: the emeritus king and Sánchez in the spotlight

The political earthquake shaking PSOE and the Executive has led King Felipe VI to take action. As Escudo Digital has reported and elcierredigital.com has confirmed, the king has reportedly met with several former presidents as a result of these events. One reason is the current political landscape, and another is the possible return of the emeritus to Spain.

According to sources close to the Crown consulted by our newspaper, Felipe VI has met with Felipe González, José María Aznar, and Mariano Rajoy. Although Escudo Digital claims that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has not spoken with the monarch, the sources contacted confirm that they have indeed met. "The king is meeting with everyone; there's no bad relationship with Zapatero," they state.

The reports linking Santos Cerdán, former Secretary of Organization of the Socialist Party, to an alleged corruption scheme have been the trigger. According to the sources consulted, Felipe VI is concerned that a new corruption scandal could once again harm the Spanish political system. This, combined with the Executive's fragmented support in Parliament, has led the monarch to contact former presidents. 

During these meetings, a situation analysis and the development of several solutions are reportedly taking place. They have also served for the exchange of opinions. It should be noted that the relationship between Felipe VI and President Pedro Sánchez is not at its best, with tense moments such as the one that occurred in Paiporta.

The Possible Return Of The Emeritus

Another reason why the king has met with the former presidents is the return to Spain of Juan Carlos I, according to the sources consulted. It is possible that Felipe VI was seeking consensus among the former leaders to facilitate his father's return. According to several media outlets, the emeritus king may be suffering at age 87 from degenerative osteoarthritis.

As we have already reported, with the publication of his memoirs the emeritus may be seeking to make peace with his family and "clear his image." According to information obtained by our newspaper, in his autobiography, titled Reconciliation, Juan Carlos I is highlighting the role of Queen Sofía.

The Modernization Of The Royal Household

The Royal Household is undergoing a period of transformation aimed at the modernization of the institution. On one hand, the king and queen have focused on strengthening institutional communication through the creation of a studio last year. In this studio, located in the Zarzuela Palace, they record videos such as Felipe VI commenting on Velázquez's Las Meninas.

It is no coincidence that journalist Marta Carazo has taken on the role of Chief of Queen Letizia's Secretariat, succeeding María Dolores Ocaña. However, this "digital transformation" may be affected by the royal family's accounts, which are "in the red" for the first time since 2015. Due to the lack of a General State Budget that could provide relief for the accounts, Felipe VI has frozen his salary.

Communication is not the only aspect the Royal Household is addressing. In February of last year, the appointment of Camilo Villarino Marzo as Chief of the Household of His Majesty the King became official. A diplomat by profession, Villarino is reportedly bringing a "radical shift toward consensus" to the institution, according to sources consulted.

It should not be forgotten that his predecessor in the position is Jaime Alfonsín, named Marquess of Alfonsín and Grandee of Spain by Felipe VI. This former State Attorney was the one who advised the emeritus to leave La Zarzuela, after speaking with the former Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo. However, he also played an important role in Juan Carlos I's first return to Spain in 2022.

Now, King Felipe VI may be seeking to establish himself as a "consensus" figure, and for this he relies on the advice of Camilo Villarino. With his meetings with former Spanish presidents, the monarch also makes clear how tense his relationship with President Pedro Sánchez is. As we have already reported in elcierredigital.com, Paiporta became a "before and after" in the leaders' relationship.

Pedro Sánchez And Felipe VI In Paiporta

The president and the king and queen met last November 3 in Paiporta, after the tragedy caused by the DANA in Valencia. During this visit, residents threw mud and insults at the leaders. Sánchez left the scene immediately, while Felipe VI and Letizia stayed a little longer.

As we have already reported in elcierredigital.com, this was the reason why Sánchez became angry with the king and queen. According to several witnesses, when they met at the Generalitat's Emergency Center after the incident, the president reproached them for not having left with him. According to Escudo Digital, this was the last time the two national leaders met to "discuss affairs."