Spain Queen Letizia's urged to explain texts to fraud accused

Spain’s El Mundo newspaper has called on Queen Letizia to explain leaked text messages that show her supporting a prominent business executive caught up in a scandal involving alleged corporate credit-card abuse.

The open letter, published in the newspaper, came a day after the digital publication, eldiario.es, reported messages in October, 2014, between Letizia and Javier Lopez Madrid, a long-time friend of King Felipe VI and former Bankia bank board member.

Letizia used an expletive to describe to Lopez Madrid the section of El Mundo that printed a story about him and the credit-card scandal, adding “we know each other, like each other, respect each other”.

Lopez Madrid, one of dozens of former bank executives and board members being investigated for the credit-card purchases, thanked Letizia and wrote: “I’ll make every effort to be careful in the future. We live in a difficult country and I will be even more conscious about my conduct.”

Felipe then joined in the text conversation and said he wanted to have lunch with Lopez Madrid soon. Spain’s royal palace does not dispute the validity of the text messages.

Felipe has broken all ties with Lopez Madrid, the official said.

Lopez Madrid is also under investigation for alleged illegal financing of the Madrid branch of Spain’s conservative Popular Party. The party ruled the country from 2011-2015 and now leads a caretaker government, following an inconclusive December election.

El Mundo’s open letter was written by Inaki Gil, editor of the society, fashion and gossip section, which published the original story criticised by Letizia (Letizia was a television journalist before marrying Felipe).

Separately, acting justice minister, Rafael Catala, said an investigation would be opened to determine how the text messages were leaked. He said he was concerned the messages “could be associated with a judicial proceeding.”

Felipe has worked hard to restore the credibility of Spain’s monarchy, following the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos, in 2014.

Juan Carlos was roundly criticised for going on an expensive elephant-hunting trip at the height of Spain’s economic crisis, and his popularity also suffered because of a public-funds embezzlement investigation targeting Inaki Urdangarin, the husband of Princess Cristina, Juan Carlos’ daughter.

They are both defendants in an ongoing fraud trial. Cristina could get a maximum sentence of eight years in jail, if found guilty of tax fraud, and Urdangarin faces a possible penalty of nearly 20 years, for more serious charges.