西班牙王儲菲利普週四繼承王位

Spain enters a new era Thursday when Crown Prince Felipe will be sworn in as the new king, taking over for his father, Juan Carlos.

Thursday's handover will be simple and low-key. Spanish officials say the royal family is mindful that in a country struggling with a recession and 25% unemployment, an extravagant ceremony would be out of place.

The 76-year-old Juan Carlos formally abdicated the throne Wednesday after nearly 40 years.

Forcing him to give up power are health problems and scandal, including an elephant hunting trip to Africa in 2012 while Spain was at the height of its economic crisis.

Juan Carlos rose to power in 1975 when longtime military dictator Francisco Franco restored the Spanish monarchy just before his death.西班牙王儲菲利普星期四將繼承他父親卡洛斯的王位，成爲新國王，西班牙就此進入一個新時期。

星期四的王位交接儀式將是簡單而低調的。西班牙官員說，王室瞭解目前西班牙正陷於經濟衰退，失業率高達25%，在這種情況下，舉行盛大儀式不合時宜。

現年76歲卡洛斯國王在位將近40年，星期三正式遜位。

迫使卡洛斯國王遜位的因素包括健康問題以及醜聞，包括1912年在非洲獵象之旅，當時正是西班牙經濟危機最嚴重的時刻。

卡洛斯於1975年登上王位，當時的軍事獨裁者佛朗哥在臨終前決定恢復王室的地位。