The Challenges Facing Felipe VI of Spain
Felipe VI who is the son of Juan Carlos Bourbon, is the new king of Spain. The 46 year old monarch and his wife Letizia are seen by many people as belonging to yet another of Spain’s wobbly institutions, weakened by corruption and scandals.
This explains why Felipe VI took specific care to mention both the country’s unemployed and theuniversity graduates who have taken low- paid and low- skilled work abroad during hisreent speachat the Prince of Asturias Awards Ceremony, his annual opportunityto speak in his own words.
Felipe VI said that he understood the “frustration, the pessismism and the lack of trust,” and called on all Spaniards to join in the task of overcoming themood of gloom. “What we really need to do is regain our hope and self-confidence.”
The reality is that there is very little that Felipe can do to contribute to that task. Spain is a constitutional monarchy, and his role is largely ceremonial. If he is called upon to do so,he can act as an arbitrator or a moderator, but he cannot force anyone to do anything.
All Felipe VI can do is call for unity and show that he understands the concerns of the people. The new king is all too aware of the declining popularity of the institution he represents.
The last official survey gave the monarchy an average approval rating of just 3.72 out of a possible 10. Felipe VI also knows that today, one of the biggest challenges that he faces is to reach out to the generations that were born after Franco’s dictatorship, the majority who say in the public opinion polls, that they would prefer to ive in a republic, with a president as head of stte rather than a monarchy with Felipe VI as king.
