The king's role and why the monarchy is debated

Key rules

• King's power: The king is head of state but holds no political power of his own; ministers countersign his acts.
• Abdication: Juan Carlos I abdicated in June 2014 and Felipe VI became king.
• Legal outcome: Juan Carlos I was never convicted; Spanish prosecutors closed their investigations in 2022.
• Public opinion: A majority generally backs the monarchy or rates Felipe VI favourably, but support is lower among under-35s.
• Parties: The PP and Vox defend the monarchy, the PSOE accepts it, and most left and regional parties want a republic.

What the king does

Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. The king is head of state and a symbol of the country's unity, but he has no political power of his own. The elected government and parliament run the country.

His role is mostly formal:

• He represents Spain abroad.
• He signs and promulgates laws. Without his signature a law is not published, but he does not choose to block it.
• He formally calls and dissolves parliament, and calls elections and referendums.
• After an election he consults the parties and proposes a candidate for prime minister. Parliament then votes on that candidate.
• He appoints and dismisses ministers, but only on the prime minister's proposal.
• He is formally supreme commander of the armed forces.

Every act of the king must be countersigned by a minister, who takes responsibility for it. The king himself is inviolable. He cannot be prosecuted or held liable for his acts as king.

Why the monarchy's standing was damaged

The damage came from the reign of Juan Carlos I, Felipe VI's father.

• In 2012 he went on an elephant-hunting trip to Botswana while Spain was in a deep economic crisis.
• The Nóos corruption case involved his daughter Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangarin. Urdangarin was jailed.
• Allegations about his finances included a 2008 Saudi-linked sum and a Swiss foundation connected to that payment.

Juan Carlos I announced his abdication on 2 June 2014. It took effect on 19 June 2014, when his son became King Felipe VI. In August 2020 Juan Carlos left Spain for the United Arab Emirates. He paid back tax debts in 2020 and 2021.

He was never convicted. Spanish prosecutors closed their investigations in 2022, citing his inviolability while king, the time limits on some offences and his tax payments. A civil case brought against him in London by Corinna Larsen was dismissed on grounds of immunity. He lives in Abu Dhabi and visits Spain occasionally.

Where public opinion stands

Recent polls generally show a majority of Spaniards backing the monarchy or rating Felipe VI favourably. Support is lower among people under 35, and some polls show young people split between monarchy and republic. Since 2014 Felipe VI has been rated better than the institution as a whole.

Opinion moves, so look at recent polls from private pollsters. The state survey body stopped asking regular monarchy questions in 2015.

Where the parties stand

• Favour a republic: the parties in Sumar (including IU and Podemos), ERC, EH Bildu, the BNG and CUP. Junts does too in practice.
• Support the monarchy as the Constitution sets it out: the PSOE, although its tradition is republican.
• Defend the monarchy strongly: the PP and Vox. Ciudadanos did so in the past.
• Open on the form of state, but work within the Constitution: the PNV.

Changing the form of state would need a very demanding constitutional reform. Nothing in daily life for you as a resident depends on this debate. It does come up in news and conversation, especially around royal events and Catalan and Basque politics.

The questions below cover the abdication, Juan Carlos's current life, young people's views and the king's limits.

Frequently asked questions

When did Juan Carlos I abdicate and who replaced him?

Juan Carlos I announced his abdication on 2 June 2014, and it took effect on 19 June 2014, when his son Felipe VI became king. It was carried out through an organic law, a special type of law passed by parliament.

Where does Juan Carlos I live now, and was he ever convicted?

Juan Carlos I lives in Abu Dhabi, after leaving Spain in August 2020, and he visits Spain occasionally. He was not convicted: Spanish prosecutors closed their investigations in 2022 because of his inviolability, expired time limits and tax debts he had already paid back in 2020 and 2021.

Do young Spaniards support the monarchy?

Support is lower among under-35s, and polls have shown young people split between monarchy and republic. Felipe VI has been rated better than the institution as a whole since 2014. Overall, polls generally show a majority favourable to the monarchy or to the king.

Which parties want Spain to become a republic?

Sumar's components (including IU and Podemos), ERC, EH Bildu, the BNG, Junts (in practice) and CUP favour a republic. The PSOE backs the parliamentary monarchy in the Constitution, though its tradition is republican. The PP and Vox defend the monarchy strongly.

Can the king refuse to sign a law or choose the prime minister?

No, the king has no political power of his own, so he cannot refuse to sign a law. He sanctions laws and proposes a prime minister candidate after consultations, but his acts need a minister's countersignature. He is also inviolable and not subject to liability.