Which Country Could Next Abolish Their Monarchy?

[Kotroman]

Is it just your (let's hope false) prediction or do you actually want the Spanish monarchy to be abolished?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by srivishnu

Just my prediction.

Since we are a discussion forum it would help greatly if you could give your reasons rather than make empty statements.

[MARG]

I think a few 'Commonwealth" countries may become Republics but, I don't think New Zealand will be one of them any time soon.

When you size up the options for an "El Presidente" the only people on the radar are political hacks.

Long live the Queen.

[Primrose28]

At the risk of revealing my vast amount of ignorance on this subject---what is happening in Belgium that makes some people think it will be the first to go? I know very little about Belgium.

[Empress Merel]

A lot.
Political, economical.
It even goes that far that a lot of people in Belgium want Belgium to belong to the Netherlands again. When that will happen you can wonder what will be the reigning house. Not a hard question; that would be the house of Orange-Nassou so the royal family of Belgium would be useless.

But for a big explanation you have to be with someone else :)

[QUEENECE29]

I think Spanish Monarchy

[Al_bina]

I wonder why. The Spanish Royal family seems to be popular. Crown Prince Felipe married a local commoner. It should help to maintain higher approval ratings among Spaniards. Not to mention that Crown Princess Letizia is often referred to as the most hard-working Princess.

Originally Posted by Empress Merel

Well, I asked my friend if he ever saw Philip become a king and he said:''I hope not, the man is obviously too stupid for such a task. He's a bit of wanker. His wife is allright but not very interesting either.''

It is not the fault of the Belgian royal family that local politicians have got an annual government crisis as a local tradition, is it? Crown Princess Mathilde is not interesting because ...? She has not got any scandals surrounding her and does not polarise the royal watchers. What else is required?

[Primrose28]

Originally Posted by Empress Merel

I asked a Belgian friend of mine.
The opinions are diverse. Others are all for the monarchy to go because the goverment (Which is basically not there) is very shaky and the crisis still hasn't been solved. Others are against it because well yeah, it wouldn't do any good and it wouldn't get any worse.
And they don't really like Crownprince Philip and Crownpricess Mathilde because they're so stiff, so grey and boring. (His opinion and he might speak for a lot of Belgians)

Thanks! I would be disappointed if the Belgian monarchy were to be abolished.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by Primrose28

At the risk of revealing my vast amount of ignorance on this subject---what is happening in Belgium that makes some people think it will be the first to go? I know very little about Belgium.

IMO it isn't only about what is happening in Belgium right now. The answer is also to be found in the history of Belgium. The state of Belgium didn't come into existence before 1830 and its monarchy didn't come into existense before 1831 when King Leopold I took the oath as the first King of the Belgians.

If you want to know more here is a link:

Belgium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is a quote from the link:

"Upon its independence, Belgium eagerly participated in the Industrial revolutionand, at the end of the nineteenth century, possessed several colonies in Africa. The second half of the 20th century was marked by the rise of communal conflicts between the Flemings and the Francophones fuelled by cultural differences on the one hand and an asymmetrical economic evolution of Flanders and Wallonia on the other hand. These still-active conflicts have caused far-reaching reforms of the unitary Belgian state into a fedetal state. There is constant speculation by observers that this process of devolution might lead to the partition of the country".

[Empress Merel]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

I wonder why. The Spanish Royal family seems popular. Crown Prince Felipe married a local commoner. It should help to maintain higher approval ratings among Spaniards. Not to mention that Crown Princess Letizia is often referred to as the most hard-working Princess.

It is not the fault of the Belgian royal family that local politicians have got an annual government crisis as a local tradition, is it? Crown Princess Mathilde is not interesting because ...? She has not got any scandals surrounding her and does not polarise the royal watchers. What else is required?

I'm not an expert on Belgium. The whole goverment, including the royal family I guess completely failed. The cities are dangerous and there are even a lot of people who want to belong to the Netherlands. Says enough.
I think Mathilde is in their eyes a grey mouse. She doesn't warm the people with her ethiusiasm like Maxima can nor she says anything interesting I guess. As I said, i'm not an expert on the Belgians.

[donnaK]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

It is not the fault of the Belgian royal family that local politicians have got an annual government crisis as a local tradition, is it? Crown Princess Mathilde is not interesting because ...? She has not got any scandals surrounding her and does not polarise the royal watchers. What else is required?

Mathilde is an exemplary wife, mother and princess. However when the country is not very pro-Monarchy in general, some people would always find faults on her. Nobody is perfect, had Philip married someone like Maxima, I doubt she would have been free for criticism, ex. her father, luxurious spending, Fergie like gestures can always be the talks.

[Al_bina]

You are absolutely right. If the public at large is keen to dissolve the kingdom and become a part of the neighbour country, as suggested in Empress Merel's posts, the public will find faults with everything the Belgian Royal family does. At times I think that the Belgian royals will never be able to please their subjects.

[lucien]

As to the initial question:Thailand.

The present Monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej has an almost divine status.

His son and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn totally lacks any respect in the population,is known for his corrupt
"goings on" and is so dumb it's almost embarrassing.He will not last 5 years,the people don't "dig" him at all.

[User0501]

Originally Posted by Kotroman

Is it just your (let's hope false) prediction or do you actually want the Spanish monarchy to be abolished?

Yes, I actually want the Spanish Royal Family to go.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Empress Merel

I'm not an expert on Belgium. The whole goverment, including the royal family I guess completely failed. The cities are dangerous and there are even a lot of people who want to belong to the Netherlands. Says enough.
I think Mathilde is in their eyes a grey mouse. She doesn't warm the people with her ethiusiasm like Maxima can nor she says anything interesting I guess. As I said, i'm not an expert on the Belgians.

As cute southern neighbours the belgians might be/can be,we here,in The Netherlands,don't want them,sorry.......
to visit them is different and really nice,but to hav 'm incorperated in our Kingdom?Nah,never.....trouble....!

Btw,the Belgian Monarch does/and always has done,an outstanding job.Far above what people initially expected from Albert,
the difficulty is not the RF but their clowns operating the country at the De Wetstraat in Brussels.

Spanish RF to go?How rediculous!Spain owns eve-ry-thing to Don Juan Carlos,from democracy,everything.
They seem,at least quiet a handfull of 'm,to have totally forgotten where they came from.Franco's dictatorship.
Europes poorhouse numero uno to the wonderfull brilliant sparkling modern nation it is today.

[Al_bina]

Why not? ... or perhaps, people of the Netherlands are concerned about possible troubles Belgians can bring (e.g., an annual government crisis that is blamed on the Belgian Royal family or never-ending complaints about dull Crown Princely couple)

[Jacknch]

My sister lives in Belgium and my step-mother (who is Dutch) lives in the Netherlands and so I visit these two countries quite often. My impression is that the two countries are very different indeed: from the characters and personalities of the people themselves to the infrastructure of the countries. They are very distinct so I'm not sure it would work to have the two countries joined as one. Maybe the Flemish and Walloons should go their seperate ways although where that would leave the royal family I'm not sure!

[amedea]

Spanish RF to go?How rediculous!Spain owns eve-ry-thing to Don Juan Carlos,from democracy,everything.
They seem,at least quiet a handfull of 'm,to have totally forgotten where they came from.Franco's dictatorship.
Europes poorhouse numero uno to the wonderfull brilliant sparkling modern nation it is today.

I have heard many experts who thinks that monarchy in Spain resist because of the democratic merits of Juan Carlos (so they call this monarchical regime "juan-carlism") and so may be that his death will sign the death of the monarchy in Spain. The marriage of prince of Asturias with an important journalist has been read as an answer to this fears. zapatero quick and radicals reforms make also think that a republican change is not so impossible..

[Sonjapearl]

I wouldn't be surprised if the monarchy in Swaziland - in south Africa - goes, or at least is downgraded to a constitutional monarchy. With more than half of the people living in poverty while the king and his many wives live in luxury, the Swazi people are getting angry. During last year's independence day celebrations, there were demonstrations. A few weeks later, a failed bomb attempt was uncovered.

So, I am betting the Swazi monarchy to end for the same reasons as the French and Russian monarchies went: their absolute rulers did not take care of their people.

[Drottning]

Originally Posted by amedea

I have heard many experts who thinks that monarchy in Spain resist because of the democratic merits of Juan Carlos (so they call this monarchical regime "juan-carlism") and so may be that his death will sign the death of the monarchy in Spain. The marriage of prince of Asturias with an important journalist has been read as an answer to this fears. zapatero quick and radicals reforms make also think that a republican change is not so impossible..

I don't think the monarchy in Spain is fragile enough where the sad death of King Juan Carlos will bring for a call to a republic. Felipe is a very capable, intelligent and savvy man. He will make the transition smoothly from his father to his own all while privately having to mourn the death of someone so beloved to him.

IICR, Juan Carlos had so many doubters in the beginning of his reign who didn't think he was going to make it he was dubbed Juan Carlos el Breve. Almost 35 years later, he's having the last laugh.

Now, if you want a troubled monarchy, Thailand would be it.