Advertisement

March 13, 2013

Is It Time for Spain to Dissolve Monarchy?

Juan Moreno, Der Spiegel

AP Photo

It isn't clear whether the deal is still on, after all the scandals. But more than 30 years ago, there was a tacit agreement between the Spaniards and their king: On the one hand, Juan Carlos was to embody the unity of a nation that struggles with unity; on the other hand, he was to ensure that Spaniards would not have to feel ashamed for their royal family.

Juan Carlos, at least on the face of it, was supposed to have an exemplary and preferably uneventful marriage with Sofia as well as to ensure that his son, Crown Prince Felipe, stayed out of trouble. In return, every Spaniard stood behind the king and staunchly defended him against all criticism.

There was something deeply Spanish about this agreement. It was as much a part of the country as the Spaniards'...

Read Full Article ››

TAGGED: Europe, Spain

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

March 5, 2013
Europe's Unemployed a Force to Reckon With
George Friedman, Stratfor
Germany sees itself as virtuous for its frugality. Others see it as rapacious in its aggressive exporting, with the most important export now being unemployment. Which one is right is immaterial. The fact that we are seeing... more ››
March 6, 2013
Why Spain Is Inviting the Jews Back
Gerry Hadden, BBC News
More than 500 years ago, tens of thousands of Jews fled Spain because of persecution. Now their descendants are being invited to return. Before the infamous Spanish Inquisition of the 15th Century, some 300,000 Jews lived in... more ››
March 6, 2013
Spain Probably Won't Catch Italian Flu
Hugo Dixon, Reuters
One knee-jerk reaction to Italy's shock election was to worry about contagion to Spain. As Rome’s bond yields shot up last Tuesday, Madrid's were dragged up in sympathy. These are the two troubled big beasts of the euro... more ››
March 10, 2013
U.S. Could Be Courting Trouble in Europe
Joel Kotkin, OC Register
With few exceptions, such as Germany, closer U.S. economic ties to Europe would be a recipe for American decline. more ››
March 10, 2013
Why EU Plan to Ban Porn Is a Bad Idea
Zack Beauchamp, Think Progress
The European Union Parliament is planning to vote on a resolution calling for a sweeping ban on pornography in the name of gender equality. If it passed, the resolution could be the first step towards a continent-wide ban on... more ››
|