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| Felipe Is Proclaimed New King of Spain | Felipe Is Proclaimed New King of Spain |
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| PARIS — Spain’s new king, Felipe VI, was proclaimed head of state in Parliament on Thursday, ushering in what royalists hope will be a new era of stability for the country’s embattled monarchy. | PARIS — Spain’s new king, Felipe VI, was proclaimed head of state in Parliament on Thursday, ushering in what royalists hope will be a new era of stability for the country’s embattled monarchy. |
| In a ceremony that was conspicuously short on pomp and circumstance at a time of austerity, Felipe, 46, took over from his father, King Juan Carlos, 76. Juan Carlos, who abdicated earlier this month, came to the throne in 1975, after the death of Gen. Francisco Franco. | In a ceremony that was conspicuously short on pomp and circumstance at a time of austerity, Felipe, 46, took over from his father, King Juan Carlos, 76. Juan Carlos, who abdicated earlier this month, came to the throne in 1975, after the death of Gen. Francisco Franco. |
| Dressed in a military uniform, Felipe swore loyalty to Spain’s Constitution. Jesús Posada, president of the lower house of Parliament, then proclaimed him king. “Long live the king! Long live Spain!” he declared. | |
| Felipe expressed his solidarity with the people of Spain, who are struggling to cope with a long-running economic crisis. | Felipe expressed his solidarity with the people of Spain, who are struggling to cope with a long-running economic crisis. |
| “We owe them a moral duty to work to reverse this situation for citizens and to provide protection to the most vulnerable families,” he told Parliament. He also offered a message of hope for the future, saying it was especially imperative for the young. | “We owe them a moral duty to work to reverse this situation for citizens and to provide protection to the most vulnerable families,” he told Parliament. He also offered a message of hope for the future, saying it was especially imperative for the young. |
| While Juan Carlos was credited with playing a central role in consolidating Spain’s return to democracy, in recent years the monarchy has been hit by a series of scandals, including the king’s decision to go on an elephant-hunting trip in 2012 while the country suffered through the economic downturn. | |
| In what is perhaps a sign of Felipe’s more down-to-earth approach, royalty from Europe and foreign leaders were not invited to the parliamentary ceremony. Even Juan Carlos decided not to attend, leaving the spotlight to his son. Also absent was Princess Cristina, Felipe’s sister, who is ensnared in a corruption case that is focused on her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player who is accused of embezzling millions of dollars. | In what is perhaps a sign of Felipe’s more down-to-earth approach, royalty from Europe and foreign leaders were not invited to the parliamentary ceremony. Even Juan Carlos decided not to attend, leaving the spotlight to his son. Also absent was Princess Cristina, Felipe’s sister, who is ensnared in a corruption case that is focused on her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player who is accused of embezzling millions of dollars. |
| Although Felipe’s ascent was a moment of joy for many Spaniards, the jubilation was somewhat offset by Chile’s 2-0 victory over Spain in the World Cup on Wednesday. It was a humiliating loss for Spain that eliminated the defending World Cup titleholder and two-time European champion from the competition, although the team has one more game to play. | Although Felipe’s ascent was a moment of joy for many Spaniards, the jubilation was somewhat offset by Chile’s 2-0 victory over Spain in the World Cup on Wednesday. It was a humiliating loss for Spain that eliminated the defending World Cup titleholder and two-time European champion from the competition, although the team has one more game to play. |
| A reserved man who is considered remote by some Spaniards, Felipe has also shown a common touch. In May he celebrated his 10-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Letizia, over a meal of couscous at a cultural center in Madrid. His 2004 marriage to Letizia, a commoner and former journalist, in the face of resistance by conservative royalists was also greeted in Spain as an example of his independent streak. | A reserved man who is considered remote by some Spaniards, Felipe has also shown a common touch. In May he celebrated his 10-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Letizia, over a meal of couscous at a cultural center in Madrid. His 2004 marriage to Letizia, a commoner and former journalist, in the face of resistance by conservative royalists was also greeted in Spain as an example of his independent streak. |