Juan Carlos of Spain to abdicate!

[alhoon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Carlos_I_of_Spain

"On 2 June 2014, Juan Carlos announced that he would abdicate in favour of his son, Felipe"

"Royal officials described the king's choice as a personal decision which he had been contemplating since his 76th birthday at the start of the year"



That took me by a surprise. Some were aware of that perhaps or how he got to the decision, but I wasn't. Can't say I find it that strange for JC, since he was always kinda... lazy if I may use the term. Seems logical that he would retire. Not that he worked that much if I may say.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind JC, I just don't think he was very active, which is a good thing and I think he also wasn't showing his face to bolster morale etc except in tourist resorts which I find a bad thing.


What's the new trend these years with people in "for life" positions abdicating one after the other? The pope, the Queen of Netherlands, the king of Belgium, the King of Spain... and there are more IIRC.

[Stavroforos]

I'm not one to say how people should vote or why they should vote for whatever they vote, but if there's a referendum on the monarchy, people shouldn't be making the choice based on economic factors.

In any case, it will be fun to watch the coronation from Europe's most ancient and greatest ruling house.

[Condottiere 40K]

Charles is still waiting in the wings.

[Roma_Victrix]

Bloody ungrateful peasants. Juan Carlos should show them again why they feared Franco.

Just kidding of course.

To be honest, I think it's rather silly that anyone is targeting the monarchy for some failed policies and a worsening economy. It's not like the king has any say in what bills gets passed in the legislature.

[Knight of Heaven]

Bloody ungrateful peasants. Juan Carlos should show them again why they feared Franco.

Just kidding of course.

To be honest, I think it's rather silly that anyone is targeting the monarchy for some failed policies and a worsening economy. It's not like the king has any say in what bills gets passed in the legislature.

I dont think its because of the economy, allthough the current social-economic paradigm doesnt help, my guess it has alot to do with corruption scandals that are very frequent within royal family. See Juan daughter and her Husband.. and such... naturaly when you have criminal cases like this, in a time of fearse, forced austerity in a economic recession, and the worst economic depression since the great depression... people tend to be unhappy. Cant say i blame them.

[Stavroforos]

I dont think its because of the economy, allthough the current social-economic paradigm doesnt help, my guess it has alot to do with corruption scandals that are very frequent within royal family. See Juan daughter and her Husband.. and such... naturaly when you have criminal cases like this, in a time of fearse, forced austerity in a economic recession, and the worst economic depression since the great depression... people tend to be unhappy. Cant say i blame them.

My problem with this is that if people have royals, they should expect them to act as royals. If they don't want people acting that way, then get rid of them.

[hellheaven1987]

I dont think its because of the economy, allthough the current social-economic paradigm doesnt help, my guess it has alot to do with corruption scandals that are very frequent within royal family. See Juan daughter and her Husband.. and such... naturaly when you have criminal cases like this, in a time of fearse, forced austerity in a economic recession, and the worst economic depression since the great depression... people tend to be unhappy. Cant say i blame them.

I would rather say the independent movement of Catalonia is much more a pressure than corruption scandals.

[hellheaven1987]

It is quite obviously that King Juan Carlos retire when Spain is in its worst moment since Franco's time - very bad economy, strong local independent movement and rise of extremism, with little solution in near future.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

Viva Espana! Viva el Rey!

[Denny Crane!]

They are an anachronism. For a certain generation he is and always will be a hero for his past actions but soon enough he became irrelevant and younger generations don't know him and don't want him or his Son.

With any luck we'll see another monarchy fall and get rid of these pointless old immoral institutions.

[Mayer]

With any luck we'll see another monarchy fall and get rid of these pointless old immoral institutions.

spanish republic 3.0?

[Henry of Grosmont]

That took me by a surprise. Some were aware of that perhaps or how he got to the decision, but I wasn't. Can't say I find it that strange for JC, since he was always kinda... lazy if I may use the term. Seems logical that he would retire. Not that he worked that much if I may say.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind JC, I just don't think he was very active, which is a good thing and I think he also wasn't showing his face to bolster morale etc except in tourist resorts which I find a bad thing.


What's the new trend these years with people in "for life" positions abdicating one after the other? The pope, the Queen of Netherlands, the king of Belgium, the King of Spain... and there are more IIRC.

Lazy? Are you talking about the guy who ended fascism in Spain? He's 76 and one might think that he's sane enough to realise it's time to step down and let his son to promote a better than "old geezer" image of a king.
As for other people abdicating, there were most probably different reasons for that too. I mean, the new Pope can be the most intelligent politician in the world. Look at the Catholic Church's rep right now. And compare it to the Palpatine time.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

But... but... the Nationalist flag is so 'purdy!

[Geronimo2006]

Unlike most monarchs that are figureheads, he actually did something remarkable. He saved democracy at its darkest hour during the failed 1981 coup. He chose not to follow the discredited pattern of his 19th century predecessor Isabella II who fell through her reliance on junta regimes.

[Denny Crane!]

And yet none of that is justification for the existence of an abhorrent concept that is monarchy. One good man does not justify the idea, in the same way that one bad man would not condemn it.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

And yet none of that is justification for the existence of an abhorrent concept that is monarchy. One good man does not justify the idea, in the same way that one bad man would not condemn it.

I'm not defending monarchy, but if Euro's want to keep their kings and queens, let them. What more are they anymore than incredibly important celebrities? The worst they do is sit on their ass, the best they do is what dear Juan Carlos did. For now the system is stable, when I see William ordering the masses around and having people killed, I'll be all for the red flag being raised. As long as there are indeed strong democratic bodies still managing the state, I don't see an overwhelming problem other than the annoyance people are born into things.

[Henry of Grosmont]

And yet none of that is justification for the existence of an abhorrent concept that is monarchy. One good man does not justify the idea, in the same way that one bad man would not condemn it.

I'm struggling to see how monarchy in, let's say, Britain does any wrongs.
As for people getting born into something, many disregard that ruling families take responsibility of representing their country very seriously (there are exceptions, of course).

[alhoon]

What more are they anymore than incredibly important celebrities?

Let's be sincere here: They're not incredibly important celebrities. They're moderately important celebrities.

[Sphere]

To be clear Juan Carlos was hand picked by the Franco to take over Spain upon his death. That is why the monarchy was re-instituted and Juan Carlos declared King (despite his father still being alive). There were other candidates, but Franco believed Carlos would continue a conservative and authoritarian Spain which is why he was chosen as the dictators successor. In truth, Juan Carlos was a secret democrat and allied with reformists to transition Spain into a modern democracy.

So there is a little more here than just celebrity. Perhaps more than anyone else, Juan Carlos shaped the current form of the Spanish government and was a major (and understandably popular) political figure. The question is should the monarchy remain, or should it end with Juan Carlos. I think the Spanish people deserve a say in that.

[Condottiere 40K]

It always depends on what the proletariat feel that they are getting out of it. Circumstances change and even firmly embedded institutions can be abolished, like after the Nepal royal massacre.