Download
As Spain's royal family reels from scandals and its elderly king leans on crutches after numerous operations, one figure is standing tall, offering the monarchy hope: heir apparent Prince Felipe.
Tall and imposing, but said to be warm and approachable by those who meet him, the 45-year-old heir has won the fondness of Spaniards even as they increasingly turn against his father, 76-year-old King Juan Carlos.
A blue-eyed former Olympic yachtsman, Felipe remains untainted by corruption scandals affecting his sister and brother-in-law, making him the family's best hope of surviving a plunge in its popularity.
Its latest opinion survey on the royals showed the number of people with a high or very high opinion of the prince rose 4 percentage points over 2013 to 66 percent.
Juan Carlos won broad respect for helping steer Spain to democracy after the death of General Francisco Franco in1975, but his popularity has plunged in the past three years. The fall from grace is largely because of a corruption scandal centered on his son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin - husband of Felipe's elder sister Cristina. It was worsened by a luxury elephant-hunting trip the king made to Africa in 2017 as his subjects suffered in a job-destroying recession.
A judge has summoned Cristina to appear in court on Feb 8 as a suspect over tax and money-laundering crimes, a first for a direct relative of the monarch. She has been linked to the business affairs of her husband, who is under investigation for alleged embezzlement of public funds.
Felipe has meanwhile taken over most public functions from his father, who has undergone surgery nine times in less than four years.
"The prince, in comparison with other political leaders, is the only one who unites everyone," said Fermin J. Urbiola, a journalist who has written several books on the king.
Over half of Spaniards, 56 percent, believe the prince could restore the monarchy's prestige if he took over as king from his father, according to the Sigma Dos poll.
For a prince, Felipe is seen as leading a relatively modest lifestyle with his wife Letizia, a former television news anchor, and their two daughters.
"He makes a good impression because he is very tall, he dresses elegantly and is very polite but at the same time he is warm, he puts you at ease," said Carlos Moreno Saiz, 39, who met the prince at a recent reception for public workers.
"I think he has the people skills to be king."
About the broadcaster:
Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.
雅思口语Part I中最易被忽视的四大细节
从剑桥听力看雅思考试出题四大难点
如何备战雅思阅读认真地对待积极地准备
雅思听力备考关键最后一堂课的份量
亲历雅思总方向不变小细节有变
名师支招新评分标准如何拿雅思口语高分
名师点拨雅思A类图表作文引言段的写作要义
三大要素快速的提高雅思大作文水平
烤鸭学习奥巴马笑侃雅思口语
名师支招雅思学术类阅读分备考策略
09年中国内地雅思考生人数超30万增幅超15%
雅思听力中最难的十个Section
名师支招雅思的口语提纲列举及拓展方式
三大要素快速提高雅思大作文写作水平
雅思听力考试最大障碍词汇听不懂
雅思高分者申请美国的大学和奖学金具有竞争力
雅思阅读主力题型摘要题的解题绝招
雅思名师坦言考的不仅是语言是实力
新托福写作及口语的备考模版
雅思阅读关键把握文章脉络
名师教你如何打好雅思心理战
名师在线讲解雅思考试阅读部分的四大备战
雅思口语备考两个误区应该及时纠正
名师浅析雅思阅读关注新话题必要性
雅思阅读题型点评浅谈哪一篇更难
名师支招如何快速突破雅思写作
雅思听力高频题型解题技巧
怎样解决雅思听力中的关键词后置问题
雅思阅读考试考前须知如何临阵磨枪
雅思考试现状以及2010年考试调整计划
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |