Euro Weekly News - Axarquia 5 - 11 June 2014 Issue 1509

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ISSUE NO. 1509

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5 - 11 JUNE 2014

King Juan Carlos abdicates THE King of Spain has abdicated. Juan Carlos decided to step aside after 39 years on the throne, announced Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Rajoy addressed the nation to say that there would be an amendment to the country’s constitution to allow the king’s eldest son Prince Felipe, 45, to take over. The new Crown Act, which will regulate the abdication and succession process was being pushed through the law-making stages on Tuesday. In his official speech, King Juan Carlos, 76 who has reigned since 1975, said: “We have felt the need for renovation, and to open up a better future. Today a younger generation deserves to step forward.” “I want the best for Spain, to which I have dedicated my whole life. I have decided to abdicate my crown to give way to a new generation embodied by my son Felipe, heir to the throne. I keep and will keep Spain forever deep in my heart.” Throughout his reign, which followed in the wake of Franco’s dictatorship, Juan Carlos was considered one of the

world’s most popular monarchs. Along with Adolfo Suarez, Spain’s first Prime Minister following the dictatorship, the monarch helped to smooth the country’s transition to democracy. However, recent years have seen a loss of confidence in Spain’s royal family due to a long-running corruption scandal involving the king’s daughter and sonin-law. There has also been a growing discontent with the wider political elite - as revealed by the recent EU Parliament elections. Following the news of the abdication, cities across Spain began organising simultaneous proRepublic demonstrations. Reportedly, 1,500 riot police were deployed to central Madrid on Monday evening, in anticipation of city-wide unrest. Leftist parties such as Podemos, United Left and Republican Catalan Left have called for the government to hold a referendum on the monarchy.

Turn to page 4 ROYAL FAMILY: Big changes ahead.

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Calls for a republic MORE than 60 Spanish towns and cities saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets to demand a referendum on the future of the monarchy. Following the announcement of the king’s decision to abdicate, republicans took the opportunity to call for the abolition of the monarchy rather than see the succession of Prince Felipe to the throne. The streets of Madrid and Barcelona saw thousands of people demonstrating. The monarchy was only restored under Franco’s dictatorship in 1975.


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Euro Weekly News - Axarquia 5 - 11 June 2014 Issue 1509 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A. - Issuu