Plan to Give Former King Immunity Splits Spain

[cinrit]

When he gave up the Spanish throne recently after nearly four decades, Juan Carlos I forfeited some perks and privileges, not least among them immunity from legal proceedings. And in the weeks since his son Felipe took the crown, Juan Carlos has gotten a glimpse of what it might be like to be treated by the courts like any other citizen, including the threat of two paternity suits.

But the former king's exposure to legal liability is likely to be limited. On Thursday, the Spanish Parliament is scheduled to give final approval to legislation declaring that he can only be tried by the country's Supreme Court. In the process, the governing Popular Party has ignited a fresh debate over the fairness of the practice of shielding government officials from prosecution, especially at a time when nearly every major Spanish institution, from the royal family down, has been caught up in corruption cases.

In relation to the United States and some other European nations, Spain is more generous in granting legal protection to its officials. About 10,000 lawmakers, judges, police officers and other civil servants have some form of special legal rights that allow them to be tried only by the country's highest courts, rather than by ordinary tribunals.

In the wake of the debate triggered by the legal status of Juan Carlos, the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced recently a broader review of Spain's legal protection system, which is likely to limit its reach.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/europe/plan-to-give-former-king-immunity-splits-spain.html?_r=0

Cindy