The Spanish cabinet held an emergency meeting and approved the succession bill.

On June 3rd, the Spanish Cabinet held an emergency meeting to approve the bill regarding King Juan Carlos's abdication and his transfer of the throne to Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon.

This procedure is conducted in accordance with Article 57 of the Spanish Constitution, and the bill requires approval from both houses of Parliament before it can take effect.

King Juan Carlos (right) and Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon. (Source: EPA) King Juan Carlos (right) and Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon. (Source: EPA)

Spanish Parliament President Jesus Posada said the necessary legal steps could be completed by June 18th for the Royal Family to decide on the date of Crown Prince Felipe's coronation after consulting with the Government.

According to observers, the bill could be passed by both houses soon because pro-royalist parties hold a majority in Parliament.

In a surprise announcement on June 2nd, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stated that King Juan Carlos had abdicated after nearly 40 years of reign, and that Crown Prince Felipe would succeed his father. The king's abdication is an unprecedented move in Spanish history.

The future king Felipe will face several major challenges, not only the corruption scandal involving his sister but also Catalonia's plan to hold an independence referendum this November.

Immediately after King Juan Carlos announced his abdication, thousands of anti-monarchists took to the streets to protest, calling for a referendum on the continued existence of the monarchy in the country.

According to VNA