Spain cabinet discusses abdication

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 03 Juni 2014 | 19.21

3 June 2014 Last updated at 11:13
Protesters wave Spanish Second Republic flags in Valencia

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Thousands of people gathered for an anti-monarchy protest, as Mariko Oi reports

The Spanish cabinet is meeting to discuss the next steps in King Juan Carlos's abdication and the accession of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.

The king announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne.

Ministers are considering a draft law on Prince Felipe's accession to the throne.

Juan Carlos was seen as popular for much of his reign, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the cabinet would consider "constitutional measures" needed to clear the way for the succession.

The Spanish constitution does not have a precise law regulating abdication and royal succession.

The legislation due to be drafted by the emergency cabinet meeting must then be approved by parliament. Correspondents say that the process could take as long as a month.

The two main parties in parliament remain loyal to the monarchy.

But most left-wing parties are opposed and staged demonstrations attended by tens of thousands of people across many cities including Madrid and Barcelona.Spain cabinet discusses abdication

"Send the Bourbons to the sharks!" protesters chanted in Madrid. The Spanish royal family is a branch of the House of Bourbon.

Many demonstrators are demanding a referendum on the future of the monarchy.

Spanish media say Prince Felipe will be proclaimed King Felipe VI by parliament on 6 June and a coronation ceremony will be held soon afterwards.

It is not clear when exactly that will be - King Juan Carlos was crowned five days after parliament proclaimed his as king.

The new king will inherit an institution that has been tarnished by scandals in recent years.

He will have to contend with a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of his sister and her husband.

Support for the monarchy fell further when it was discovered that Juan Carlos had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain's financial crisis.

King Juan Carlos photographed in February, 2014

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

King Juan Carlos, 76, has had health problems in recent years

Stabilising force

Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the dictator who had ruled for 36 years.

The king became Spain's first crowned head of state for 44 years.

But he soon ignored Franco's supporters, who wanted an extension to autocratic rule, and ushered in a new system of parliamentary monarchy.

In later years he became more of a figurehead.

He has been credited as a stabilising force for independence-minded areas such as Catalonia and the Basque region.

Prince Felipe and his wife - former television presenter Princess Letizia - have recently taken on more important roles in ceremonial events.

Felipe appears to have been untarnished by the scandal.

But the BBC's Ignacio del los Reyes, in Spain, says there is still concern over whether the couple will be able to save a damaged institution.

Recent European Abdications

  • June 2014: King Juan Carlos of Spain steps down, saying he is passing the role to a younger, energised generation.
  • July 2013: Belgian King Albert II abdicates in favour of his son, Philippe, for health reasons.
  • April 2013: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands hands the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander, saying he is ready to reign and it is time for the throne to be held by "a new generation".

Are you in Spain? What is your reaction to the king's abdication? What next for the Spanish royal family? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'King Juan Carlos'.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Spain cabinet discusses abdication

Dengan url

http://beritaberbagiceria.blogspot.com/2014/06/spain-cabinet-discusses-abdication.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Spain cabinet discusses abdication

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Spain cabinet discusses abdication

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger