|
|
Article: Another Spanish employment problem. (skepticism about Prince Felipe and his succession of the throne from his father King Juan Carlos)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- August 9, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
ONE of King Juan Carlos's two daughters has already married a commoner. The other is about to follow suit. So the pressure is growing on Prince Felipe, the 29-year-old heir to Spain's throne, to find a wife, produce an heir, and do his bit to keep the monarchy going.
Not that it is creaking. Juan Carlos has done well. A youthful 59, he could reign for many more years. His racy, common touch has been a successful complement to Queen Sofia's sensitive intelligence. Most Spaniards, even on the left, are grateful to him for helping to entrench democracy in the edgy years after General Franco's death in 1975. But Spain is not a profoundly monarchist country. Since 1868, it ...