"Spain’s king condemns corruption among rich" by Alan Clendenning and Harold Heckle, Associated Press December 25, 2014
MADRID — Spain’s new King Felipe VI insisted in his first Christmas Eve speech Wednesday that seemingly endless examples of corruption across the country must be stamped out, not mentioning his indicted sister by name but stressing that public figures don’t have a right ‘‘to profit or become rich.’’
The speech, watched by millions on television, is the most important national address by Spanish kings, and Felipe gave it after his father Juan Carlos abdicated in June — putting his own stamp on the monarchy.
Felipe told Spaniards they should take heart that some accused of ‘‘irregular conduct’’ are being held accountable in legal proceedings that are riveting and outraging many.
‘‘There must not be favored treatment for those occupying a position of public responsibility,’’ Felipe said. ‘‘Public office must not be a means to profit or become rich.’’
Two days before Felipe spoke, his sister Princess Cristina was indicted on two counts of tax fraud that could land her in prison for eight years if she is convicted in an alleged scheme that funded a lavish lifestyle for her and her husband at their Barcelona mansion.
Spain has seen a cascade of corruption cases hitting politicians from most of the country’s political parties.
Cristina, 49, is the first royal family member ordered to trial since the monarchy was restored in 1975. She could end up in court toward the end of next year along with her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, an Olympic handball medalist who became a businessman, and 15 others in the case.
See: Princess Cristina Put on Trial
The princess is accused of benefiting financially from an alleged scheme with Urdangarin’s nonprofit Noos organization that allegedly embezzled public funds and syphoned them into Aizoon, a private company owned by the couple.
Probing suspected abuse of company funds to cover the couple’s personal expenses from their Aizoon real estate firm, an investigative judge compiled lists of alleged examples. They included purchases for the couple’s Barcelona mansion, salsa dancing classes, and vacations at luxury hotels.
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