EX-SPANISH KING JUAN CARLOS TO LEAVE SPAIN

Amid a corruption scandal, former Spanish king Juan Carlos has announced he is leaving the country and moving abroad, according to an open letter released by the royal palace on Monday, Emilio Rapold wrote for the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) on August 4, 2020.

Juan Carlos said he was taking the decision to make it easier for his son, King Felipe, to perform his duties. Juan Carlos' popularity has plummeted in recent months as he has become implicated in a scandal about illegal payments from a Spanish consortium for the construction of a high-speed train in Saudi Arabia.

The decision was made "in light of the public repercussions that certain past events have caused," wrote Juan Carlos, 82, in the letter.

"It is a decision that I am taking with deep emotion, but also with great calm," he added. His destination has not been disclosed. The country's highest court ruled on June 8 that investigations could begin into the former monarch. He is also being probed by Swiss authorities.