A new political scandal has erupted in Spain following King Felipe VI’s address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The monarch dedicated his speech to the situation in the Middle East, but his words sparked a sharp reaction from the country’s far-right forces.
On the night after the speech, well-known MEP and leader of the “Se Acabó La Fiesta” movement, Alvise Pérez, published a photo on his Telegram channel featuring the king and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He hinted at informal meetings and even moments of amusement between them following the monarch’s address, where the king allegedly backed the government’s foreign policy stance. Although the photo was actually taken the day before, the publication instantly triggered a wave of comments and insults directed at the king. Social media users did not hold back, even using vomiting emojis.
The criticism was not limited to Pérez’s supporters. Representatives of the Vox party also spoke out against the monarch, accusing him of being too soft regarding events in Gaza. According to them, Felipe VI did not use sufficiently strong wording, choosing the term “mass killing” instead of “genocide,” as the Spanish government has done in recent weeks. On social networks, far-right supporters freely hurled insults, using nicknames that became popular after the king’s previous political decisions.
Other prominent figures also joined the discussion. Hazte Oír leader Ignacio Arsuaga expressed regret over the monarch’s speech, claiming the king seemed to be under Sánchez’s influence. Such statements only fueled the fire, intensifying the wave of indignation among opposition-minded citizens.
Meanwhile, it is known that the speech was prepared jointly by representatives of the government and the royal family, although the final wording was decided at the royal palace. Despite this, the far right continues to accuse the king of allegedly becoming a tool of the current government and losing his independence.
The scandal surrounding Felipe VI’s speech at the UN has become yet another episode in a series of sharp political conflicts that have shaken Spanish society in recent years. The debate over the role of the monarchy and its independence is once again at the center of public attention.
