Madrid (AP) — Spain's King Juan Carlos, who led Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy but faced royal scandals amid the nation's near financial meltdown, announced Monday he will abdicate in favor of his son, making way for a "new generation."
The
king told Spaniards in a nationwide address that he first started thinking
seriously about giving up the throne when he turned 76 in January.
He
said Monday that the 46-year-old Crown Prince Felipe is ready for the post and
will "open a new era of hope combining his acquired experience and the
drive of a new generation."
The
abdication was first announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who did not say
when the handover would happen because the government must now craft a law
creating a legal mechanism for the abdication and for Felipe's assumption of
power.
Juan
Carlos has been on the throne for 39 years and was a hero to many for
shepherding Spain's democratic and economic transformation, but has had
repeated health problems in recent years.
His
longstanding popularity took a big blow following royal scandals, including an
elephant-shooting trip he took in the middle of Spain's financial crisis during
which he broke his right hip and had to be flown from Botswana back to Spain
aboard a private jet for medical treatment.
The
king's image was also tarnished by the investigation of his son-in-law, who is
suspected of embezzling large amounts in public contracts.
His
daughter Princess Cristina in January was forced to testify in the fraud and
money-laundering case targeting her husband Inaki Urdangarin, an Olympic
handball medalist turned businessman. She became the first Spanish royal to be
questioned in court since Juan Carlos took the throne.
In
his speech the king did not mention any of the scandals, and played down his
health issues.
Felipe
would presumably take the title King Felipe IV. He has a law degree from
Madrid's Autonomous University and obtained a masters in international
relations from Georgetown University in the United States.
Felipe
is married to Princess Letizia, a former television journalist, and they have
two daughters.
Like
his father, Felipe has traveled the globe trying to maintain Spain's influence
especially in former Latin American colonies, while seeking to promote the
nation's international business interests.
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.
As
Spain's new democracy matured over the years and Spain transformed itself from
a European economic laggard into the continent's fourth largest economy, the
king played a largely figurehead role, traveling the globe as an ambassador for
the country. He was also a stabilizing force in a country with restive,
independence-minded regions such as the Basque region and Catalonia.
"He
has been a tireless defender of our interests," Rajoy said.
Juan
Carlos has melded the trappings of royalty with down-to-earth, regular-guy
charm. The king is an avid sports fan and after the Madrid terror bombings of
March 11, 2004, showed he could grieve like anyone else.
At
an emotional state funeral for the 191 people killed in the train bombings by
Islamic militants, Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia slowly went row-by-row through
Madrid's Almudena Cathedral, clasping the hands of sobbing mourners or kissing
them on the cheek.
But
his patient work nearly came undone during the financial crisis, with people
questioning after the elephant-hunting trip whether a hereditary monarchy was
needed.
The
World Wildlife Fund's branch in Spain ousted Juan Carlos as its honorary
president — a title he'd held since 1968 — after deciding the hunt was
incompatible with its goal of conserving endangered species. Juan Carlos took
the unprecedented step of apologizing to Spaniards for his actions.
He
recently said that he wanted to be remembered as "the king who has united
all Spaniards."
King
Juan Carlos goes down a path increasingly traveled by European royalty.
Last
year Belgium's King Albert handed over the throne of his fractious kingdom to
his son, Crown Prince Philippe. Two months earlier, Queen Beatrix of the
Netherlands stepped down after a 33-year reign in favor of her eldest son, who
was appointed King Willem-Alexander.
It
was a break with tradition, but not as big as the decision early last year by
Pope Benedict XVI to resign, a move that stunned Catholics around the world.
The
two royal successions in Belgium and the Netherlands have been smooth and
successful.
___
Associated
Press writer Raf Casert contributed to this report from Brussels.
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