Felipe VI's physique and the public cost of Spain's captain general
A photo of Felipe VI has reignited criticism of his fitness as captain general and of the public spending that funds the Spanish Royal Household.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Felipe VI and the budget: how much does a fit captain general cost?
Should a head of state be held accountable for his physical condition? The latest photo of Felipe VI has revived an uncomfortable criticism: the captain general of the Spanish Armed Forces does not look as fit as one would expect from someone who commands an army. The issue becomes economic when you remember that the Royal Household lives off budget allocations.
The comparison with merit comes by itself. If the post comes with a lifetime stipend and no performance review, what incentive is there to keep up an exercise routine? The question is not trivial. Overweight is not unusual among the military top brass either, and no one in the ranks dares demand of a general what is demanded of a recruit. The result is a double standard: what would not be tolerated among the troops is tolerated in the elite.
Some point out that you can be fat and strong, and others remind us that muscle mass is a guarantee of a healthy old age. In a country with healthcare spending under pressure, taking care of the head of state's body is not an aesthetic whim: it is an investment in image and in future costs. With the difference that for most Spaniards the gym is paid out of their own pocket, while here the bill is signed off by the Budget.
The next time someone justifies Defence spending by the preparation of its officers, just show the photo. Though better not to add any comments.
Should a head of state be held accountable for his physical condition? The latest photo of Felipe VI has revived an uncomfortable criticism: the captain general of the Spanish Armed Forces does not look as fit as one would expect from someone who commands an army. The issue becomes economic when you remember that the Royal Household lives off budget allocations.
The comparison with merit comes by itself. If the post comes with a lifetime stipend and no performance review, what incentive is there to keep up an exercise routine? The question is not trivial. Overweight is not unusual among the military top brass either, and no one in the ranks dares demand of a general what is demanded of a recruit. The result is a double standard: what would not be tolerated among the troops is tolerated in the elite.
Some point out that you can be fat and strong, and others remind us that muscle mass is a guarantee of a healthy old age. In a country with healthcare spending under pressure, taking care of the head of state's body is not an aesthetic whim: it is an investment in image and in future costs. With the difference that for most Spaniards the gym is paid out of their own pocket, while here the bill is signed off by the Budget.
The next time someone justifies Defence spending by the preparation of its officers, just show the photo. Though better not to add any comments.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
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