The wealth of Juan Carlos de Borbón, who has just abdicated, has always been a secret. The opposition of the Royal House and the governments has been systematic. So far we have only known the amount reserved in the general budgets for the House of the King, more than EUR 8 million. A few months ago, the king’s annual salary was published, amounting to EUR 280,000, and that of his successor, Philip, to EUR 140,000. However, he has not officially pronounced himself on the personal legacy of the Bourbon. In the event that some data have been published abroad, the same usual short answer has been obtained: “They’re not right.” But they have never given the right official figures.

Herman Matthijs, an expert in budgets and assets of the European real houses, of the University of Brussels, tried in 2012, albeit unsuccessfully, to compare the available data with the Spanish Royal House. The researcher noted that the assets of Borbon amounted to EUR 1,640 million. This data coincided with those published by Forbes and the New York Times. Other sources say that their wealth amounts to EUR 2 billion. It appears to have earned EUR 540 million in investments in equity and in works of art, while another EUR 1 billion in various assets. Everyone asks the same question: How could he make a fortune like that, if the monarch started almost from scratch? This is a series of suspicions about the relationship he has had with the companies and the rich in the Arab world.

As he has been legally shielded – he wants to continue in this situation even after abdicating – he has avoided any investigation. It would be logical, like any citizen, to investigate him and his wealth. In any event, once it has been withdrawn with such a considerable amount, it would be a scandal if the government maintained the budget for the monarch through our taxes. It is enough to be enriched at the expense of “subjects”. In addition, we never chose it. It is the time of another republic, transparent, which is not going to shield anyone from justice. Referendum now!