King Bourbon Accused of Supporting Military Plot
A new book by Pilar Urbano accuses Juan Bourbon, the Spanish monarch, of supporting an effort by military officers to remove the country’s elected government in 1981. Bourbon also applied personal pressure to get the PM to stand down, according to the journalist and popular historian.
Most other Spanish historians are reported to have rejected these allegations. And Bourbon headquarters in Madrid has described them as “pure fiction”.
Bourbon has previously benefited from a widespread high regard for the part he played in Spain’s transition to democracy. Urbano has now accused him of being close to right wing plotters and of wishing to replace the prime minister with a general.
An account by Ms. Urbano of a conversation she says took place between Bourbon and prime minister Suárez in 1981 certainly has the ring of “royal” arrogance. According to Urbano Bourbon told the prime minister “One of the two [of us] is superfluous in this country. One of the two is too much. And, as you will understand, I will not abdicate.”