No action over German royal's claim to have spied for Spain

The government will not take legal action against Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, a personal friend of King Juan Carlos, despite recognizing in a written reply to United Left (IU) deputies José Luis Centella and Alberto Garzón that the German businesswoman and former royal lied about having carried out "classified" work for the Spanish state.

The statement read: "Bringing legal action would entail use of the legal machinery of the state, something that the government does only in the public interest and, in any case, never to make denials." The government, therefore, does not consider the activities of Sayn-Wittgenstein to be in the public interest.

Cayo Lara, the IU national coordinator, said that the government's decision demonstrates its desire to "protect the Royal Household."

"It seems that not only have we come up against the Church, but also the Head of State," Lara said.

The United Left has for weeks been claiming the government is seeking to "elude" answers over the status of Sayn-Wittgenstein. Earlier this month, IU deputy Ricardo Sixto asked whether she had used state resources, such as property, vehicles or secretarial services. The government replied that state services were afforded to "authorities and high office-holders under the regulatory norm corresponding to their official responsibilities."