In the Wake of King Juan Carlos’ Abdication, Calls for a Third Spanish Republic

With the announcement of his abdication, King Juan Carlos could be the last king for quite a long time if calls for a third Spanish repbulic succeed and Spain abolishes its monarchy once again. To some a remnant of the Franco regime that ruled Spain from the 1930s until King Juan Carlos’ assumption of the role of Head of State upon Franco’s death some four decades later, the Spanish monarchy’s continued existence has never been a foregone conclusion. Spain is also wracked with a multitude of other problems including a depressed economy, high unemployment, and separatist/nationalist movements in Catalan and elsewhere. Not only is the future of the Spanish monarchy uncertain but also the future of a united Spain is now in question.

 

[Al Jazeera]