MADRID — The Spanish government is deeply concerned about the fact that one of the king's daughters has been named as a suspect in a corruption case, the foreign minister said Thursday.
Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo said the summoning of Princess Cristina affected the entire country's image and urged that the case be resolved rapidly.
"Anything that affects an institution that has been so important in Spain's transition [from dictatorship to democracy] and which is so important for Spain's image abroad, causes enormous concern," Margallo told reporters.
The subpoena announcement caused a sensation Wednesday and has been the main news item for all Spanish media.
The summons is a first for a member of the king's immediate family. The palace expressed surprise at the decision and welcomed a prosecutor's move to appeal it.