Moncloa and Casa Real have agreed on an 'Operation Return' of the Emeritus at 'cost 0' for the State and that agreement has already been transferred to Juan Carlos I in the negotiations that have been taking place in recent days in Abu Dhabi to close the details of his return. The ex-monarch, they affirm from his closest environment, has no problem with bearing all the expenses, although he insists on a requirement that seems unaffordable for Felipe VI and Pedro Sánchez: reside in Zarzuela.

That condition, very well-placed sources in the Royal House explain to Vozpópuli, continues to cause debate in the current king's environment. There is total consensus that Zarzuela cannot be the definitive residence of Juan Carlos I due to the controversy that this would generate, but some relevant members of the House do not see any inconvenience that the Emeritus can stay temporarily until he moves to his new home .

Regarding the need or not to carry out works in the complex, the sources consulted recall that the facilities are "ready" for a hypothetical return -temporary- of the Emeritus and rule out any modification of the infrastructure. They affirm that this would only take place if the king settled there definitively, an assumption that is now totally ruled out.

In any case, they remember, not even in those circumstances would a large outlay be necessary: ​​"Rajoy installed his father in Moncloa and only had to equip and adapt some rooms, but not do any work". Despite this, they insist, "it is not an option" for Juan Carlos I to live in the complex once he returns from Abu Dhabi.

"He will bear the costs"

They also do not see clearly, from Zarzuela and from Moncloa, that the Emeritus resides in a property owned by the State, and not only because of the controversy that this could cause: "A large part of these properties have two sworn guards working there and nothing else. they would need, there yes, to carry out works, adapt the accesses, form a perimeter zone... and a large team of agents".

The security deployment, and also Juan Carlos I's own opposition, rule out other locations, such as the luxurious Puerta de Hierro urbanization in Madrid. Sources close to the Zarzuela escort services warn of the possible problems that such a location could generate: "We have seen it with Pablo Iglesias's chalet in Galapagar. Protesters or journalists did not stop going there and the agents could not cope." A situation that neither the Government nor the Royal House wants.

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Both in Moncloa and in Zarzuela, therefore, they insist on the 'Portuguese way' that Vozpópuli reported on Wednesday. From the surroundings of the Royal House they also affirm that the acquisition of that mansion would not entail any cost for the State, since it would be Juan Carlos I himself who would assume those expenses.

The same sources recall that the Emeritus has "a large capital" that allows him to face such an outlay. In any case, they add, "he has very close friends and businessmen willing to give him properties, also in Portugal."

They remember, in this sense, that the country house near Sanxenxo in which Juan Carlos I spent a good part of the time before leaving for Abu Dhabi does not belong to him: "Its owner is a businessman friend, who he happily gives it up."

The escort, in charge of the State

The expenses derived from the new home of Juan Carlos I, therefore, will be borne by the Emeritus. However, his security will continue to depend on the public coffers.

The sources consulted by Vozpópuli confirm that, regardless of his residence, Juan Carlos I will continue to have escort services whose emoluments are already included in the expense item of the General State Budget.

In Abu Dhabi, the former monarch has four escorts and the valet. In addition, the agents who do this escort work have relief every three months. The Emirati crown also guarantees the 'shielding' of the Island of Nurai, where Juan Carlos I is staying.

If he establishes his residence near Estoril, the security of the former monarch would be similar to that available in the United Arab Emirates: "He would continue to have the services of his team of escorts, whose salary is budgeted by the Ministry of the Interior, while the Portuguese police would be in charge of the perimeter surveillance of the compound".

In this way, the security of Juan Carlos I, with this commitment from Portugal, would not entail an extra cost for the State. An objective that both Moncloa and Zarzuela see as essential to fulfill... whether the Emeritus agrees to settle in the Portuguese country or in any other possible future location.