The government is planning to grant King Juan Carlos the highest possible legal protection against potential lawsuits once he ceases to be the Spanish head of state.
Until now, the monarch has enjoyed immunity from the courts, but once he hands over the crown to Felipe he will lose the inviolability.
To protect Juan Carlos against future legal attacks, the Popular Party (PP) administration will include him in the list of aforados, individuals who can only be tried by the Supreme Court in civil or criminal inquiries relating to the exercise of their duties. There are around 10,000 politicians, magistrates and other public officials who enjoy this special status.
The authorities, however, are seeking to take matters a step further with Juan Carlos, extending the aforamiento to civil suits over events unrelated to the exercise of his duties. This would include such things as paternity suits.
Eighteen months ago, a court in Madrid turned down two paternity suits brought against Juan Carlos for events that allegedly took place before he was crowned king, arguing that the king is inviolable and, under the Spanish Constitution, not legally accountable.