Spain's new era
Spain's King Juan Carlos, who led the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but faced damaging scandals amid the nation's financial meltdown, announced Monday, June 2, 2014, he will abdicate in favor of his son so that fresh royal blood can rally the nation in its time of trouble. The king told Spaniards in a nationwide address that he started making a plan to give up the throne after he turned 76 in January. He said that the 46-year-old Crown Prince Felipe - whose 70 percent approval rating in a recent El Mundo newspaper poll compares to his father's 41 percent - is ready to be king and will "open a new era of hope." Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, centre, Spain's King Juan Carlos, left, and Spain's Queen Sofia, right, attend the annual Pascua Militar Epiphany ceremony at the Royal Palace, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. Spain's King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to take over, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the country Monday in an announcement broadcast nationwide. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years. (AP Photo/Gerard Julien, Pool)
In this Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, photo Spain's King Juan Carlos leaves after the official opening of the Parliament, in Madrid. Spain's King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to take over, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the country Monday in an announcement broadcast nationwide. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Spanish Princess Letizia and Spanish Crown Prince Felipe smile in the Throne room as they attend a welcome ceremony before a gala dinner for Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, at the Royal Palace, near Madrid, Monday, June 9, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country's next king. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, pool)
Dozens of demonstrators gather and wave Spanish flags around the monument of Charles III, a former King of Spain, during a demonstration in support of the Spanish Monarchy in the main square of Madrid, Spain, Friday, June 6, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country's next king. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years. His popularity also dipped following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis that tarnished the monarch's image. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
A man waves the republican flag during a protest calling for the independence and the implementation of the republic in Catalonia after the announcement of the abdication of Spain's King Juan Carlos in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, June 2, 2014. King Juan Carlos, who led Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy but faced damaging scandals amid the nation's financial meltdown, announced Monday he will abdicate in favor of his more popular son so that fresh royal blood can rally the nation. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
In this May 1973 photo of Spain's leader Francisco Franco, left, with his future successor as King, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon, as they watch a military parade in Madrid . Spain’s King Juan Carlos will abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to take over, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the country Monday in an announcement broadcast nationwide. He did not say when Juan Carlos would abdicate because the government must now craft a law creating a legal mechanism for the abdication and for 46-year-old Felipe’s assumption of power. King Juan Carlos came to power in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco. He endeared himself to many Spaniards in large part by putting down an attempted military coup in 1981 when he was a young and largely untested head of state. (AP Photo)
King Juan Carlos and Crown Prince Felipe, right, attend a military ceremony in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, outside Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is holding an emergency cabinet meeting to draft the legal process for King Juan Carlos to abdicate and be replaced by his son, Crown Prince Felipe. The handover cannot happen until the government crafts the mechanism for abdication and Felipe's assumption of power. The proposal is expected to pass quickly because Rajoy's center-right Popular Party has an absolute majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Royal guardsmen parade during the traditional 'Changing of the Guard' ceremony inside the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, June 4, 2014. The cabinet of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has approved a proposal for emergency legislation that allows King Juan Carlos to abdicate and hand over his duties to Crown Prince Felipe. Juan Carlos is widely respected for leading Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy and staring down a 1981 coup attempt, but was hit hard by royal scandals over the last several years. He announced Monday he was abdicating because his son is ready for the job and because Spain needs a 'new era of hope'. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Protestors march as they wave Republican flags during a demonstration against the Spanish Monarchy and demanding a referendum in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, June 7, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country's next king. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years, and his popularity dipped following royal scandals. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
King Juan Carlos and Crown Prince Felipe, right, attend a military ceremony in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, outside Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is holding an emergency cabinet meeting to draft the legal process for King Juan Carlos to abdicate and be replaced by his son, Crown Prince Felipe. The handover cannot happen until the government crafts the mechanism for abdication and Felipe's assumption of power. The proposal is expected to pass quickly because Rajoy's center-right Popular Party has an absolute majority in Parliament. Juan Carlos led Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy but was hit by damaging scandals amid Spain's financial meltdown. He announced Monday he was abdicating because his son is ready for the job and Spain needs a 'new era of hope.' (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Spanish King Juan Carlos enters the room during a welcome ceremony before a gala dinner for Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, at the Royal Palace, near Madrid, Monday June 9, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country's next king. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Spain's King Juan Carlos appears signing a document in the Zarzuela Palace opening the way for his abdication on page one of a Spanish newspaper printed in Madrid, Spain, Monday, June 2, 2014. King Juan Carlos plans to abdicate and pave the way for his son, Crown Prince Felipe, to become the country's next king. The 76-year-old Juan Carlos oversaw his country's transition from dictatorship to democracy but has had repeated health problems in recent years. His popularity also dipped following royal scandals, including an elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis that tarnished the monarch's image. The king came to power in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
For more images of Spain's Abdication, view ourKing Juan Carlos Abdicates collection.
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