Don Juan wants to lead Spain

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33873, 19 June 1975, Page 21

Don Juan wants to lead Spain

(New. Zealand Press Association —Copyright} LISBON

Spain’s pretender to the Spanish throne. Don Juan de Borbon, has shocked Spain’s political community by suggesting that he, not his son, should succeed the Head of State, Generalissimo Francisco Franco.

Saying he was not a conspirator, “or a competitor of anyone,” the self-exiled Count of Barcelona said Generalissimo Franco’s succession plan would not result in democracy and “those who really have power” — clearly the Spanish Army — should support him. Don Juan made his longdelayed political move after 29 years of living in Portugal in a speech to a group of opponents of the Franco regime in Estoril.

Immediate reaction from Spain was one of surprise. But the Count’s speech was expected to increase the pressure on Generalissimo Franco, already pressed to give up his 36 years of authoritarian rule, and let the Count’s 37-vear-old son, Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon. succeed as Chief of State and Spain’s-first king since 1931. Generalissimo Franco named the Prince as his successor nearly six years ago. The official succession plan appeared to have been accepted by Don Juan at the time, although he said he was not consulted and did not renounce his rights as successor to his father. Alfonso XIII.

Don Juan praised the monarchy "as a safeguard of human rights and fundamental political and social liberties and an instrument of concord among all Spaniards as a vehicle for our full integration into the European Community.” Don Juan lauded the Por-

tuguese forces that carried out the revolution deposing the old Rightist Portuguese regime, and he said the Portuguese rebellion had allowed the country the opportunity of striving “for a real democracy.”