Prime Minister Sanchez says old king owes Spaniards an explanation

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on exiled former king Juan Carlos to explain his past misconduct.

The 84-year-old owes the Spanish people an explanation, the Socialist told journalists on Tuesday on a flight to Latvia, the news agency Europa Press reported.

The previous evening, the royal family had published a letter from the former king in which he states his intention to continue living in Abu Dhabi for the time being, but to visit his homeland "more often."

In the letter to his son, Juan Carlos expresses regret about some "past events" in his "private life," but also claims "legitimate pride" in his contribution to Spain's democratic coexistence.

Sánchez was reacting publicly for the first time to information provided by the judiciary last week, when the Attorney General's Office had dropped all investigations into the former king.

The investigating authority had found numerous "irregularities" in the ex-king's financial dealings.

However, these would not be brought to trial because of the statute of limitations and payment of back taxes, as well as the legal immunity of the former monarch until his abdication in 2014.