Empresários reclamam devolução de iate oferecido ao rei de Espanha. Spain's King Juan Carlos gives up luxury yacht 'Fortuna'

Empresários reclamam devolução de iate oferecido ao rei de Espanha


Por PÚBLICO
27/05/2013
Ao fim de 13 anos, a Casa Real decidiu prescindir da embarcação de luxo para o estado espanhol.

Um grupo de 25 empresários espanhóis das ilhas Baleares que há 13 anos ofereceu ao rei de Espanha um luxuoso iate reclama agora a devolução da embarcação, depois de a Casa Real – a viver um momento de baixa popularidade – ter prescindido do iate Fortuna.

A embarcação de luxo – 41,5 metros de comprimento e que o El País refere como um dos mais velozes do mundo – custou em 2000 o equivalente a 21 milhões de euros e foi oferecido através da fundação para o turismo e cultura de Baleares (Fundatur), criada para o efeito pelo Governo das Ilhas Baleares e pelos empresários, maioritariamente hoteleiros e pessoas ligadas ao sector bancário.
Com Espanha em plena crise económica, a Juan Carlos pediu ao Património Nacional para desafectar o iate a este organismo público, responsável pela gestão dos bens da família real. Segundo aquele jornal espanhol, a informação chegou ao conhecimento da Fundatur pouco antes de ser tornada pública pela Casa Real, levando os empresários a convocarem uma assembleia extraordinária para discutir o caso.
Por unanimidade, decidiram pedir a devolução do Fortuna “aos activos da Fundação”, explicando o porquê numa carta dirigida nesta segunda-feira ao conselho de administração do Património Nacional.
Numa curta missiva, Carmen Matutes, presidente da Fundatur, sustenta que “a doação efectuada pela Fundação a favor do Património Nacional” estabelecia que “a decisão de doar a embarcação era para o usufruto “de S.M. [Sua Majestade] o Rei e os membros da Família Real’”.
Segundo o jornal El Mundo, caberá agora ao Conselho de Ministros formalizar o destino do Fortuna – o terceiro iate da Família Real com este nome –, tendo a administração do Património Nacional já aprovado a desafectação do iate.


Spain's King Juan Carlos gives up luxury yacht 'Fortuna'

King Juan Carlos has renounced the use of his luxury yacht, which costs the taxpayer 25,000 euros to refuel, in the latest nod to austerity by the Spanish royal family.

By Fiona Govan, Madrid1:38PM BST 17 May 2013 in The Telegraph / http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10063446/Spains-King-Juan-Carlos-gives-up-luxury-yacht-Fortuna.html



For the last 12 years it has provided countless photo opportunities; the monarch at the helm of the 136-foot motor yacht cruising around the waters off Majorca while various members of his family sunned themselves on its deck.
But on Thursday the 75-year-old head-of-state made the decision to give up one of his most prized possessions amid growing resentment by Spaniards at the privileges enjoyed by the elite in a nation suffering deep economic crisis and an unemployment rate above 27 per cent.
”The King has taken the decision to ask the National Heritage to proceed with the release of the asset,” a spokesman for the Royal Palace announced on Thursday.
”It wasn't something he felt comfortable with any longer,” said a source at Zarzuela Palace, the King's residence.
The 35-ton vessel named 'Fortuna' was gifted to the state for use by the King in 2000 by a group of businesses on the Balearic Islands, where the Royal family have their summer palace and spend several weeks a year on holiday.
The yacht, which was purchased for 21 million euros, was the latest in a series that had played host to visiting dignitaries including Prince and Princess of Wales back in 1990.
Spain's monarchy has seen its popularity plummet in recent months with recent polls showing public confidence in the royal family has reached an all time low.
The King was forced to issue an unprecedented public apology in April last year after provoking outrage when it emerged he had been on an expensive elephant hunting safari to Botswana where he broke his hip.
The trip served to highlight the extravagant lifestyle of Spain's royals during a time of deep austerity and came just weeks after the monarch claimed to be “kept awake at night by the plight of the Spain's youth unemployed”.
It led to calls for his abdication for a King who had for decades enjoyed a lasting respect for his role in smoothing Spain's transition to democracy after the 36-year dictatorship of Gen Francisco Franco.
The Royal family have also been hit by a fraud and embezzlement scandal embroiling the King's son-in-law Inaki Urdangarin which even led to Princess Cristina being named as a suspect. She was later dropped from the investigation following an appeal.
Last year the Royal Family announced they would reduce their annual budget by 100,000 euros to 8.3m euros with King Juan Carlos and his heir Prince Felipe announcing they would take a pay cut of 7 percent, broadly in line with the public sector wage cut imposed by Spain's conservative government.
The Royal Palace also announced that it would open their household accounts for public scrutiny.