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| Spanish cabinet to discuss King Juan Carlos's abdication | Spanish cabinet to discuss King Juan Carlos's abdication |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Spanish cabinet is to discuss the next steps in the process of 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. | The king announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne. |
| Ministers will discuss the steps needed to approve Crown Prince Felipe's accession to the throne. | Ministers will discuss the steps needed to approve Crown 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. | 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 meeting would aim at carrying out the "constitutional measures" needed to clear the way for the succession. | Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the cabinet meeting would aim at carrying out the "constitutional measures" needed to clear the way for the succession. |
| The Spanish constitution does not have a precise law regulating abdication and royal succession, and ministers will discuss the special legislation that will be necessary for the process. | The Spanish constitution does not have a precise law regulating abdication and royal succession, and ministers will discuss the special legislation that will be necessary for the process. |
| The two main parties in parliament remain loyal to the monarchy. | The two main parties in parliament remain loyal to the monarchy. |
| Prince Felipe will become King Felipe VI and will inherit an institution whose reputation has been tarnished by scandals in recent years. | Prince Felipe will become King Felipe VI and will inherit an institution whose reputation has been tarnished by scandals in recent years. |
| Referendum protests | Referendum protests |
| King Juan Carlos announced his decision on Monday in a televised address. | King Juan Carlos announced his decision on Monday in a televised address. |
| "A new generation must be at the forefront... younger people with new energies," the 76-year-old king said. | "A new generation must be at the forefront... younger people with new energies," the 76-year-old king said. |
| Prince Felipe will have to contend with the damage done to the standing of the monarchy by a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of his sister and her husband. | Prince Felipe will have to contend with the damage done to the standing of the monarchy by a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of his sister and her husband. |
| Support fell further when it was discovered King Juan Carlos had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain's financial crisis. | Support fell further when it was discovered King Juan Carlos had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain's financial crisis. |
| On Monday evening, thousands of protesters took to the squares of several Spanish towns and cities demanding a referendum on whether the monarchy should continue. | On Monday evening, thousands of protesters took to the squares of several Spanish towns and cities demanding a referendum on whether the monarchy should continue. |
| Stabilising force | Stabilising force |
| Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the military dictator who had ruled for 36 years. | Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the military dictator who had ruled for 36 years. |
| The king became Spain's first crowned head of state for 44 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Recent European Abdications |
| June 2014: King Juan Carlos of Spain steps down, saying he is passing the role to a younger, energised generation. | 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. | 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". | 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". |