The general coordination of the United Left (IU), Cayo Lara, has said that King Juan Carlos, or his advisers, have missed an historic opportunity to set an example and show support for the Health Service by not scheduling his latest operation for a public hospital.
Speaking in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Lara wished the king a speedy recovery but added that the debate for the IU is not the question of whether or not the monarch could abdicate due to deteriorating health but more a question of whether the people of Spain really want to see the monarchy continue or would prefer a republic.
He said that abdication would just lead to more of the same and would deny democracy to the Spanish people.