Tag: King Juan Carlos

Time To Create Jobs, King Says

King Juan Carlos met with a variety of Spanish business leaders today to discuss ways of improving the economic situation, promoting competitiveness and reducing sky-high unemployment.

Leaders present included executives of Spanish multinational firms Repsol, Inditex, BBVA and Iberdrola, among others. They met at Telefónica offices in Madrid.

King Juan Carlos with Spanish business leaders.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The group, which has been referred to a “think tank” of sorts, was formed last year amid the economic meltdown. The King has urged business leaders to do all they can to promote job creation.

Thin Summer Agenda

The Spanish Royal family is enjoying some down time during the summer vacation period.

Infanta Elena will be in London in the coming days for the Paralympic games, the Royal Household said. She is honorary head of Spain’s Paralympic Committee.

 

Her Royal Highness speaking at the Spanish embassy in London.

Last week King Juan Carlos visited an emergency command center in Madrid.

Group picture at 112 Emergency Response Center.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Also on the agenda was a meeting with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Zarzuela Palace, where the economy was one of the topics of discussion.

King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Preparing For The Throne

Prince Felipe was in the Dominican Republic this week for the swearing-in of new Dominican President Danilo Medina.

© Agencia EFE

Prince Felipe has been representing the Kingdom at such ceremonies at Ibero-American countries since 1996. It’s a means of getting officials, particularly throughout Latin America, used to the future Spanish King.

During his visit, Prince Felipe also met with outgoing President Leonel Fernández, who was in Madrid earlier this year.

© Agencia EFE

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met King Juan Carlos at Marivent Palace, where members of the Royal Family are vacationing.

King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Rajoy meeting at Marivent Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Bullfight Marks Constitutional Anniversary

King Juan Carlos attended a bullfight last week to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1812 Constitution, Spain’s first attempt at Democratic government.

Royal box.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Don Juan Carlos traveled to the Port of Santa María in Cádiz for the bullfight. The region will play host to the 22nd Ibero-American Summit later this year.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The Cádiz Cortes, whose lawmakers wrote the 1812 Constitution, met in the southwestern Spain community during the Napoleonic Wars.

Unions Press King on Cuts

The leaders of Spain’s two main labor unions — the Unión General de Trabajadores and Comisiones Obreras — met with King Juan Carlos today amid the nation’s ongoing economic turmoil.

Meeting at Zarzuela Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The leaders expressed their opposition to a recent flurry of budget cuts, which they say are hurting workers and the needy.

The King has spoken in favor of European cooperation and integration. However, he has stressed the need for a balanced approach to dealing with the debt crisis.

The labor leaders expressed their discomfort with further EU intervention in Spain’s economy, which may come with painful strings attached.

King Meets with Monti; Queen on Vacation

King Juan Carlos welcomed Italian Premier Mario Monti at Zarzuela Palace today.

King Juan Carlos with Prime Minister Monti at Zarzuela Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Monti stopped in Spain as part of a tour of several European countries. He’s seeking solidarity for measures to beef up the troubled Euro currency.

Spain and Italy are among the countries that are most under pressure from financial markets.

Meanwhile, Queen Sofia and other members of the Royal Family have been in Palma de Mallorca on vacation.

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Olympic Sendoff

King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and other members of the Royal Family hosted several members of the Spanish Olympic delegation before their departure for London.

Group at El Pardo Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The King recalled the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the strength of Spanish teams.

During a speech at El Pardo Palace near his own residence at Zarzuela, King Juan Carlos told the athletes that qualifying alone was a great accomplishment.

“Yours is a great responsibility and I am sure you will rise to it,” said His Majesty.

Members of the Royal Family are wrapping up their official agenda before heading to Marivent Palace in Mallorca for vacations.

Prince Felipe with European foreign ministers in the Almudaina Palace in Mallorca last week.

Even though other commitments kept the family away from the King’s Cup regatta in Mallorca, which was held earlier than usual this year because of the Olympics, Prince Felipe’s presence at the awards ceremony added a sense of normalcy to the event, Hola noted.

Prince Felipe with Balearic Island President José Ramón Bauzá Díaz last week.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

King No Longer WWF Honorary President

Leaders of the Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund have decided to get rid of the post of honorary president, held until now by King Juan Carlos.

King with Bank of Spain president.

The group said that 94 percent of its leadership voted for the action today, which comes amid controversy over Don Juan Carlos’ elephant hunting trip to Botswana.

“Even though this type of hunting is legal and regulated,” the group said in a statement, “it has been considered incompatible by many associates with the honorary presidency of a group like WWF.”

King Meet with Putin, Medvedev

King Juan Carlos today finished a two-day business trip to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Don Juan Carlos was accompanied by top Spanish politicians and business leaders, including from multinational energy companies Iberdrola SA and Repsol SA.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

President Putin officially awarded the King the officials State Prize of the Russian Federation. Don Juan Carlos will donate the 125,000 euros that come with the award to restoration efforts in the wake of the earthquake in Lorca, Spain.

King Juan Carlos with President Putin.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

During meetings, the King spoke about Spain’s relations with Russia. He said that the first Russian ambassador to Spain arrived in Cadiz in 1667. He added that Russia was the first country to recognize the Cadiz Cortes, born from the 1812 Constitution.

The King said Russia had become a partner of first order with Europe and promised Spanish friendship. But he also stressed the need for international cooperation and United Nations involvement in the Syria conflict.