Juan Carlos calls it a day

[Middle-aged Europe]

Bye Juan Carlos, hello Felipe!

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27662301

[Indy Texas]

¿Por qué no te callas?

[politicus]

Bye Juan Carlos, hello Felipe!

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27662301

Right decision.

[Cassius]

That comments thread reminded me of why I stopped reading BBC comments threads

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The republican banner will wave again soon. The writing is on the wall.

[Simfan34]

The republican banner will wave again soon. The writing is on the wall.

But whatever happens, remember it is the King who brought democracy to Spain.

[RogueBeaver]

He has his well-deserved place in history. While I'm not a fan of abdication I can understand why he did it.

[ZuWo]

¿Por qué no te callas?

I am not a fan of monarchy, but that was a great moment indeed.

[Niemeyerite]

[Velasco]

The republican banner will wave again soon. The writing is on the wall.

But whatever happens, remember it is the King who brought democracy to Spain.

It's not completely true. Social changes would have made impossible an authoritarian monarchy, preserving the essence of the old regime. I don't question his merits or motivations and I'll abstain myself to express my opinion on his figure now. In any case, the king had clear that monarchy had to adapt or to die and pushed for the establishment of a parliamentary regime. Sentences like "the King brought democracy to Spain" downplay the importance of other actors, some proceeding from the old regime (Suárez) and others from the democratic opposition. Democracy is not a divine grace.

[Simfan34]

monstrosity

F[inks] you, you filthy republican. Juan Carlos has been far more "useful" to Spain in terms of job creation, diplomacy, and international reputation than any washed-up politician President would ever be. Africa begins at the Pyrenees no longer, thanks to him.

[Velasco]

You seem to believe that Juan Carlos had magic powers and did all the hard work.

[Simfan34]

You seem to believe that Juan Carlos had magic powers and did all the hard work.

I don't seek to denigrate the role of people like Suarez, Calvo-Sotelo, or Areilza, but it was really Juan Carlos who led the charge and set the tone that democracy was going to be established, especially after 20-N. It might have been the right choice, but that does not make it a foregone conclusion.

But then again, you're talking to someone who takes the divine right of kings semi-seriously.

[Velasco]

You seem to believe that Juan Carlos had magic powers and did all the hard work.

I don't seek to denigrate the role of people like Suarez, Calvo-Sotelo, or Areilza, but it was really Juan Carlos who led the charge and set the tone that democracy was going to be established, especially after 20-N. It might have been the right choice, but that does not make it a foregone conclusion.

How about people like that filthy communist called Carrillo?  And the people, Simfan? Again, it wasn't a gracious award.

[Simfan34]

I am not saying he brought democracy to a people with no desire or concept of democracy. He simply did the right thing. But how many leaders have done the right thing? The number of autocrats who voluntary elected to reduce their powers in favour of more democratic government can be counted on one hand, maybe two.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Juan Carlos might not have been essential in restoring democracy to Spain. but I would argue that without him it would have been a far bloodier restoration.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

The right decision. I respect him for his work in ending Fascism, but he had become a liability in his later years. Also, he shouldn't have hunted those elephants

Seems like a weird spate of abdications recently

[Antonio the Sixth]

[Associate Justice PiT]

     In his tenure, King Juan Carlos has been a hero to us all. In his abdication, I fear only that my beloved nation had not been worthy to receive him.

[Silent Hunter]

I am not saying he brought democracy to a people with no desire or concept of democracy. He simply did the right thing. But how many leaders have done the right thing? The number of autocrats who voluntary elected to reduce their powers in favour of more democratic government can be counted on one hand, maybe two.

King John, one of the Frederiks in Denmark, Juan Carlos...

[afleitch]

I think it's time Elizabeth did the same.

[politicus]

I am not saying he brought democracy to a people with no desire or concept of democracy. He simply did the right thing. But how many leaders have done the right thing? The number of autocrats who voluntary elected to reduce their powers in favour of more democratic government can be counted on one hand, maybe two.

King John, one of the Frederiks in Denmark, Juan Carlos...

The seventh. Still, the leader of the National Liberals had warned that they might be "driven to the self help of despair" if he didn't.. .
But historians agree that he didn't have any real interest in governing anything since he was basically an immature individual - sort of the boy that never grow up.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I think it's time Elizabeth did the same.

Isn't the future King George VII still rather unpopular in the UK?

[Cassius]

I think it's time Elizabeth did the same.

Isn't the future King George VII still rather unpopular in the UK?

Do you mean Charles? Nah, I don't think he's not that unpopular anymore, even if he occasionally says some questionable stuff...

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I think it's time Elizabeth did the same.

Isn't the future King George VII still rather unpopular in the UK?

Do you mean Charles? Nah, I don't think he's not that unpopular anymore, even if he occasionally says some questionable stuff...

Yeah, I meant Charles. On the other hand, the future George VIII is probably very popular in Britain right now.