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| Spanish cabinet discusses King Juan Carlos's abdication | Spanish cabinet discusses King Juan Carlos's abdication |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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 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. | 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. | |
| "Send the Bourbons to the sharks!" protesters chanted in Madrid. The Spanish royal family is a branch of the House of Bourbon. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Stabilising force | Stabilising force |
| Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the dictator who had ruled for 36 years. | 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. | 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 |
| 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'. | 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'. |