Future and Popularity of the Spanish Monarchy

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by lula

Being like Spanish politicians are, would be much worse.

The protests are against the monarchy, and in many cases against the Spanish political and institutional system. No serious democratic country, can change the form of State every 30 or 40 years ... and Spain in the last two centuries has had too many such experiments.

The leftist movements, republicans, independence groups ... always organized large demonstrations and make lots of noise. But if they really want changes, they will not succeed with banners and shouting, it must achieve with elections and in the Parliament. They are experts in promising things and tell people what they want to hear, but that often collide with the reality of today's world.

The economic crisis has increased the discontent of the people, especially the youth with the system... now the head of the system changes, and thus gives way to another generation to another way of seeing things and that will give way to change.

The two main national parties (the Conservative PP and the Socialist PSOE) support the monarchy. Unless that changes, I don't see republicanism getting any further new ground in Spain.

[lula]

Yes, the monarchy has fallen in surveys ... but as I said in recent years, with the crisis, people is very unhappy and all institutions have fallen...

The results of the Royal Family are bad, results of politicians are absolutely terrible ... so they can hardly be seen as a good alternative.

[DukeJonathan81]

Well I suppose that's going to happen with any institution in an nation that people think isn't producing, people automatically see that institution as irrelevant and in need of removing, even over here in the UK the monarchy has its bad & good days, I do hope that the people of Spain will allow Prince Philip to prove himself

[DukeJonathan81]

Originally Posted by Cory

There is only a minority for the republic.

Then I will take your word for it

Anyway, I believe the Felipe will make a very good king.

[royalistbert]

Spain as a country there seems to be a lot of protest anyway.

[ANNIE_S]

Originally Posted by royalistbert

Spain as a country there seems to be a lot of protest anyway.

This is the most accurate post of the night

Yes, Republican parties are certainly big in Spain and they´re protesting all over the country, but I don´t think is so worrying. It was expected that they would protest when this day would come.

We´ll have to wait a bit longer to see which this leads to.

[An Ard Ri]

Cory can you provide links for these polls in future,thanks.

[Jacknch]

I think it is very important for republican and monarchy supporters alike to be able to demonstrate and have their voices heard publicly without fear of arrest or worse. In fact to my mind, there is more democracy in having the ability to protest unhindered than there is in having the ability to elect one's head of state once in a blue moon.
Accordingly, the protesters are using their democratic right to protest and that is a good thing. Naturally, as the majority of people support the system of monarchy, democracy is continually served by retaining said monarchy. I would go as far as to say that the monarchy is as democratic as a republic with similar levels of support.

[Cory]

A poll of Spaniards in January by Sigma Dos gave Felipe a 66% approval rating, compared with 41% for his father:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/spani...ays-1401699434

More than half of Spaniards want king to abdicate: poll | Repost - The Future of Content is Here

It won't be easy for the future Felipe VI:

Juan Carlos abdication sparks calls for referendum on Spain's monarchy | World news | theguardian.com

We will see how the reaction of the people will be at the accession to the Throne of King Felipe VI.

Popular support for Spain’s monarchy plummets - World Socialist Web Site

[ANNIE_S]

Originally Posted by Jacknch

I think it is very important for republican and monarchy supporters alike to be able to demonstrate and have their voices heard publicly without fear of arrest or worse. In fact to my mind, there is more democracy in having the ability to protest unhindered than there is in having the ability to elect one's head of state once in a blue moon.
Accordingly, the protesters are using their democratic right to protest and that is a good thing. Naturally, as the majority of people support the system of monarchy, democracy is continually served by retaining said monarchy. I would go as far as to say that the monarchy is as democratic as a republic with similar levels of support.

Agree on everything

[DukeJonathan81]

Err... didn't you just tell us several minutes ago that support on the Spanish Monarchy was over 60%?

[tamta]

Ιn his interview today on Christiane Amanpour, King Constantine of Greece clearly implied that there are parts of the system that oppose and rival the Spanish monarchy. He was referring to the Spanish judiciary, that takes so long to reach a decision on the Inaki/Infanta Christina, and thought this is clearly an example of trying to harm the institution by dragging it in the mud for all this time rather than reaching a verdict..

If this is true, and there are indeed segments of Spanish establishment that defy the monarchy, it's not the best of news for the new royal couple and the institution..

[Pumuki]

Originally Posted by DukeJonathan81

Then I will take your word for it

It's true they are a minority. These kind of protests are usually organized by far-left parties/independists/anarchists. They have always existed, they have always been noisy, some even violent, and have always protested against anything that doesn't suit their ideology.
It's not like big masses of "regular" people took on the streets spontaneously to manifest a true, general dislike of the monarchy. It was more like the same old extremists who are always protesting finding yet another reason to take on the steets.

Of course, there are peaceful, "regular" people who are republicans, but I think, in general, monarchy is perceived as a more stable, traditional system, and most people in Spain are not so inclined to change.

As proof of that, both major parties in Spain support the monarchy. Things would have to change radically to even consider turning Spain into a republic. Especially now that we live in a democracy, it's a lot more difficult to make such changes. The Constitution would have to be altered in its heart and you would need a huge majority for that. I don't think we are close to that at the moment.

Thankfully, we are not in the 19-early 20th centuries when Spain was truly a politically unstable mess.

[Cory]

The support for Prince Felipe is over 60% but not the support for the institution of Monarchy.

[4Pam]

Good luck to Letizia & Felipe! I can't wait to see their inauguration ceremony!

[lula]

Tamta, the Spanish judicial system is very slow... the duration of the case Noos process is the same than that of other court cases with similar characteristics. Obviously for the Royal House that's terrible, but it is the situation of justice.

[LadyGabrielle]

Do you think the inauguration will be televised?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using The Royals Community mobile app

[tamta]

Originally Posted by DukeJonathan81

I remember reading an article (sorry, can't recall what it was called or where I was actually reading it) that said popularity for the Spanish Monarchy had dropped to 48%, I do hop that isn't true but with all these protests and demonstrations it's looking like the Spaniards really want rid of the House of Bourbon :(

I don't think that the above pictures prove that. The crowds at Plaza del Sol were not that huge. I've seen huge demonstrations, believe me, and this was nothing like it. Of course it shows a republican presence, no one doubts that. But don't forget that Madrid has a population of 5 million people, and leftist parties in last week's elections got 20% of the vote... The republican left will always be there somehow -but not a majority..

[Cory]

Let's hope the riots will be less present that day.

[4Pam]

Retiring royalty: Kings and queens can just quit?