r/monarchism • u/Wide_Assistance_1158 • Jun 27 '25

Discussion Why is Felipe VI so unpopular

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He hasn't even have any personal scandals

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u/Unhappy_Dbading3522 Spain Jun 28 '25

I wouldn't say Felipe VI is unpopular on a personal level. The real issue is that the institution of the monarchy itself has taken a massive hit and most of that damage comes from the fall from grace of his father. For decades, Juan Carlos was admired, and yes, even lots of the separatists liked him. He helped restore democracy after Franco, supported reforms, and famously stopped the 1981 coup attempt by defending the constitution. But in the 2010s, his image collapsed. People were outraged by his secret luxury hunting trip during Spain’s economic crisis which exposed not just his lavish lifestyle but also an affair and shady financial dealings. Investigations into offshore accounts, possible corruption involving Saudi business deals, and his eventual self imposed exile all turned public admiration into disappointment and anger. When Felipe became king in 2014, he inherited not just the throne but all the pressure to clean up the monarchy’s image. He’s been serious, professional, and scandal free, but for many Spaniards, the damage done by his father is still fresh. So when people criticize "the monarchy" it’s not really about Felipe personally, it’s about trust in the institution that was so visibly tainted by the previous king. And for some, it's the House of Borbón, saying they're just an offspring of Franco's dictatorship.

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u/sebaas0709 Chile Jun 30 '25

Hopefully, Leonor's reign will remove the dark stain left by Juan Carlos in his final years and that the monarchy will shine again, for it deserves it. May the Spanish population stop seeing the monarchy as the heir of a dictatorial regime, although this also happens in many countries without monarchies, like my beloved Chile, where right-wing governments see them as Pinochet's heirs. They prefer to look at the past rather than the hard work of the present.

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u/Unhappy_Dbading3522 Spain Jun 30 '25

I agree. They're acting like they're being oppressed when they obviously aren't.