Editing Felipe VI (section)

===Accession===
[[File:Proclamacionfelipevi2.jpg|thumb|right|Felipe VI takes the oath before the [[Cortes Generales]] during the proclamation ceremony at the [[Palacio de las Cortes, Madrid]], 19 June 2014.]]On 2 June 2014, King Juan Carlos announced his intent to [[Abdication of Juan Carlos I|abdicate]] in Felipe's favor. As required by the [[Constitution of Spain]],<ref>per article 57.5</ref> the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]] began deliberations the following day on an [[Organic Law (Spain)|organic law]] to give effect to the abdication. The law had to be passed by a majority of all members of the [[Congress of Deputies]], the lower house of the ''[[Cortes Generales]]''. According to [[Jesús Posada]], the [[president of the Congress of Deputies]], Felipe could be proclaimed king as early as 18 June.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27672997|title=Spanish politicians lay out abdication timetable|publisher=BBC News|date=3 June 2014|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622204200/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27672997|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 June, ''[[El País]]'' of Madrid reported that Felipe would indeed be proclaimed king on 18 June.<ref name="ElPais"/>

Felipe ascended the throne at the stroke of midnight on 19 June; his father had given his sanction to the organic law effecting his abdication just hours earlier.<ref name=BBCAccede/> The next morning, after receiving the [[Captain General]]'s sash from his father (symbolizing the transfer of royal and military power),<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-06-19|title=Felipe VI Takes Over from His Father as Spain's New King|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/felipe-takes-over-from-his-father-as-spains-new-king-1403171076|access-date=2023-08-24|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620111425/http://online.wsj.com/articles/felipe-takes-over-from-his-father-as-spains-new-king-1403171076|url-status=live}}</ref> he was formally sworn in and proclaimed king in a low-key ceremony held in the Cortes. He swore to uphold the Constitution before formally being proclaimed king by Posada.<ref name=Felipespeech>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27918094|title=King Felipe VI calls for 'new Spain' as he is sworn in|publisher=BBC News|date=19 June 2014|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313015131/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27918094|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon his accession, he became the youngest monarch in Europe, being nine months younger than King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]].
[[File:180714ConsejoZarzuela04.JPG|thumb|right|Felipe VI chairing his first [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]], at direct request of prime minister [[Mariano Rajoy]] (18 July 2014).]]
As king, Felipe has fairly extensive [[reserve powers]] on paper. He is the guardian of the Constitution and is responsible for ensuring it is obeyed and followed. It was expected that he would follow his father's practice of taking a mostly ceremonial and representative role, acting largely on the advice of the government. He indicated as much in a speech to the Cortes on the day of his enthronement, saying that he would be "a loyal head of state who is ready to listen and understand, warn and advise as well as to defend the public interest at all times".<ref name=Felipespeech/> While he is nominally chief executive, he is not politically responsible for exercising his powers. Per the Constitution, his acts are not valid unless countersigned by a minister, who then assumes political responsibility for the act in question.

A poll conducted by ''El País'', however, indicates that a majority of Spaniards wish Felipe would play a greater role in politics, with 75% of the 600 people surveyed stating they would approve if he personally pushed the political parties to reach agreements on national problems.<ref name=Oleary>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-king/spaniards-want-new-king-to-play-greater-role-in-politics-poll-idUSKBN0EX0HG20140622|title=Spaniards want new king to play greater role in politics: poll|last=O'Leary|first=Elisabeth|work=Reuters|date=22 June 2014|access-date=6 December 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628164658/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-king/spaniards-want-new-king-to-play-greater-role-in-politics-poll-idUSKBN0EX0HG20140622|url-status=live}}</ref> According to an ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'' newspaper poll, Felipe had a greater approval than his father prior to his reign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish king abdicating so more popular 'new generation' Crown Prince Felipe can take over|date=2 June 2014|url=http://www.news1130.com/2014/06/02/spanish-prime-minister-king-juan-carlos-to-abdicate-in-favour-of-son-crown-prince-felipe/|access-date=16 March 2016|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322214358/http://www.news1130.com/2014/06/02/spanish-prime-minister-king-juan-carlos-to-abdicate-in-favour-of-son-crown-prince-felipe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 June 2014, he appointed his private secretary since 1995, [[Jaime Alfonsín]], as Private Secretary to the King.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galaz|first=Mábel|date=2014-06-23|title=Felipe VI nombra a Jaime Alfonsín nuevo jefe de la Casa del Rey|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/politica/2014/06/23/actualidad/1403535873_524948.html|access-date=2023-08-27|issn=1134-6582|archive-date=27 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827080714/https://elpais.com/politica/2014/06/23/actualidad/1403535873_524948.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, he also appointed [[José Manuel de Zuleta y Alejandro]], 14th [[Duke of Abrantes (1642)|duke of Abrantes]], as Private Secretary to the Queen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Higuera|first=Raoul|date=2014-06-27|title=José Manuel Zuleta, la nueva mano derecha de la Reina doña Letizia|url=https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2014-06-27/jose-manuel-zuleta-la-nueva-mano-derecha-y-amigo-de-la-reina-letizia_153056/|access-date=2023-08-21|website=vanitatis.elconfidencial.com|language=es|archive-date=19 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819071624/https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2014-06-27/jose-manuel-zuleta-la-nueva-mano-derecha-y-amigo-de-la-reina-letizia_153056/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 18 July, the new king chaired his first meeting of the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Junquera|first1=Natalia|date=18 July 2014|title=Felipe VI preside por primera vez el Consejo de Ministros|work=El Pais|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/18/actualidad/1405671743_960311.html|access-date=5 June 2017|archive-date=8 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008231747/https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/18/actualidad/1405671743_960311.html|url-status=live}}</ref>