Word: juan
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Technically, at least, Franco answered that with the 1947 Law of Succession, which declares Spain a monarchy; later he decreed that within eight days of his death his power would devolve upon Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón, 37 (see box page 26), who as King of Spain will ascend the throne vacated 44 years ago by his grandfather, Alfonso XIII. Yet few observers expect the inexperienced, untested Prince to be able to control the political forces that will certainly be unleashed by Franco's departure...
Franco's final crisis came quickly and unexpectedly. A month ago Franco-with Juan Carlos at his side-had appeared on the Royal Palace balcony to accept the homage of a mass rally in Madrid's Plaza de Oriente and he seemed vigorous for a man of his years (TIME, Oct. 13). Then, in the midst of an Oct. 17 Cabinet meeting at El Pardo Palace, his official residence outside Madrid, he announced that he was feeling queasy and excused himself from the room. The next morning Spain was swept by rumors about the state of his health...
...step aside. Only the family members and some of Franco's closest and oldest aides refused to concur. When told about the doctors' announcement of Franco's setback, Arias apparently rushed to El Pardo Palace to get a signature on a document transferring authority to Juan Carlos. The doctors, however, stopped the Premier from entering the sickroom, warning that "it would kill Franco to take a pen in his hand...
...transfer of power in a dictatorship is seldom smooth. Yet it is probable that Juan Carlos' authority will not be challenged immediately. "Although many people in the opposition will not accept him because of his close association with Franco," observed Centrist Politician Marcelino Oreja, "most Spaniards want to give him a chance." No one knows for certain, however, whether Juan Carlos has the courage to break with the "bunker"-the group of hardline rightists who were Franco's most loyal backers and can be expected to oppose any realistic political reforms...
...first clue to Juan Carlos' policies will be his choice of a new government. It is expected that Premier Arias, as a matter of form, will submit his own and his Cabinet members' resignations. A dour former chief of Spain's hated internal-security apparatus, Arias has little personal ambition. "I want to be Franco's last Prime Minister but not Juan Carlos' first one," he once confided to a friend. Nonetheless, if Juan Carlos urges Arias to carry on in office with his ministers, that will be interpreted by the left as a signal...