King’s son ‘will open a new era of hope’

Spain’s King Juan Carlos has announced he will abdicate in favour of his more popular son so that fresh royal blood can rally the nation.

While the monarchy is largely symbolic, Juan Carlos’ surprise decision may hold implications for a burning Spanish issue: the fate of wealthy Catalonia, which is to hold a secession referendum this autumn.

Abdication in favour of Crown Prince Felipe is expected to bring constitutional revisions to guarantee the new king’s daughter will succeed him. That could create momentum for further constitutional changes aimed at easing Catalan secessionist fervour, analysts say.

The 76-year-old Juan Carlos — who led Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy, but faced damaging scandals amid the nation’s financial meltdown — said Felipe, 46, is ready to be king and will “open a new era of hope”.

The son certainly has greater command over the hearts of his people: Felipe’s 70% approval in a recent El Mundo newspaper poll dwarfs Juan Carlos’ 40%.

The king, Carlos, did not mention the scandals or Catalonia by name or specify what issues his son must prioritise as the next head of state for Spain. He only stressed that Felipe will need to “tackle with determination the transformations that the current situation demands and confront the challenges of tomorrow with renewed dedication”.

The king told Spaniards in his nationwide address that he started making a plan to give up the throne after he turned 76 in January. Since then, Spain has embarked on what appears to be a sluggish but steady economic recovery. Its biggest problems are a 25% unemployment rate and the drive by the wealthy north-eastern region of Catalonia to hold a secession vote in November, one labelled illegal by the government in Madrid.

Now that Felipe is set to become king, Spain is expected to change its constitution to make sure his first-born daughter Leonor can succeed him.

The royal family has said its wants the change to ensure she is next in line to the throne in the event that Felipe’s wife gets pregnant again and gives birth to a boy, who would become monarch under the current constitution.

Analysts say that could open the door to political negotiations for additional proposed constitutional changes, including demands by the leading opposition Socialist Party to grant Catalonia more autonomy or special financial benefits to blunt Catalonian separatist sentiment.

Antonio Barroso, a London-based analyst with the Teneo Intelligence consulting firm, said: “I think both parties could agree on a change to accommodate the needs of Catalonia.”

He cautioned that the process could take months.

Artur Mas, president of Catalonia, declared that the king’s abdication would not derail his plans to hold the vote asking Catalans whether they want to secede from Spain. “We have a date with our future on November 9.”

The abdication was first announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who did not say when the handover would happen, because the government must now craft a law creating a legal mechanism for the abdication and for Felipe’s assumption of power. Mr Rajoy said he would preside over an emergency cabinet meeting today to draft the law which is assured of passing because his centre-right Popular Party has an absolute majority.

Far-left parties called for a national referendum to abolish Spain’s monarchy after the king made his announcement and said they would hold nationwide protests last night.

They surprised the nation on May 25 by polling much stronger than expected in the European Parliament elections, taking away seats from the mainline Popular and Socialist parties.

Juan Carlos has been on the throne for 39 years and was a hero to many for shepherding Spain’s democratic and economic transformation, but has had repeated health problems in recent years.

His long-standing popularity took a big blow following royal scandals, including a 2012 elephant-shooting trip he took at the height of Spain’s financial crisis during which he broke his right hip and had to be flown from Botswana to Spain aboard a private jet for treatment.

The king’s image was also tarnished by the investigation of his son-in-law, who is being investigated on suspicion of embezzling large amounts in public contracts.