The Spanish king who set, then saved, democracy
With little fanfare and a short farewell letter, Spain鈥檚 king emeritus, Juan Carlos I, officially retired from public life June 2. The former monarch, who reigned for 38 years, should not be fading away so quietly.
Despite past controversies, Juan Carlos must be remembered for his role in ushering in democracy for Spain in the 1970s, a crucial step toward European stability. He then oversaw that democracy and even, at one point, rescued it.
When he first took the throne in 1975, politicians expected him to be little more than a historical footnote. He was called 鈥淛uan Carlos, el Breve鈥� (Juan Carlos, the Brief). That he would rule so long was a surprise. Spain鈥檚 longest and most successful experiment in democracy would have been unthinkable without him.
He started on the path toward kingship as a young pawn in a Spanish game of thrones. A decade after the fascist Generalissimo Francisco Franco seized power in the civil war of the 1930s, Juan Carlos鈥� father 鈥� trying to ingratiate himself with the country鈥檚 dictator while the royal family lived in exile 鈥� sent the 10-year-old prince back to Spain to complete his education. For almost 20 years, Franco personally supervised the prince鈥檚 life. In 1969, he named the prince his successor 鈥� immediately ordering a public pledge of loyalty.
Juan Carlos was supposed to be Franco after Franco. But when the dictator died in 1975, Juan Carlos shocked the world by fast-tracking Spain toward democracy 鈥� revealing reformist tendencies kept secret during the final years of Franco鈥檚 life.
Within five years, the country had a new constitution, judiciary, and democratic legislature, in large part due to the king鈥檚 efforts. When a rogue general stormed the parliament in 1981, ostensibly in the name of the king, Juan Carlos ended the attempted coup with definitive support for democracy. He is widely credited with preventing a return to authoritarian rule. A headline in a story by 海角大神 said it all: 鈥淎 king who really earns his keep.鈥�
The king鈥檚 motto was 鈥淭he crown must be earned every day.鈥� He lost the crown by that same measure when, after embarrassing political gaffes, he was forced to abdicate in 2014. Despite his fall, he will long be seen as the father of Spain鈥檚 third republic. He helped create it, came to represent it, and eventually gave it back to the people. Now, unlike the early, fragile years of Spain鈥檚 democracy, the country no longer needs its 鈥減eople鈥檚 king.鈥�
Juan Carlos ended his retirement letter sent last week to his son, King Felipe, with the words 鈥淎 huge hug from your father.鈥� Many Spaniards, jaded with the monarchy鈥檚 recent failures, may question whether he deserves a hug in return. Embraced or not, he at least has earned a place in Spanish history.
In today鈥檚 troubled democracies, when rhetoric seems to be more important than results, the former king鈥檚 desire to 鈥渆arn his crown鈥� 鈥� to be evaluated on his merit 鈥� is a refreshing approach to power. He was judged by his actions; he accepted judgment based on his actions. How different the world would be if more leaders took the same approach.
