Spain

Spain has a population of 47.3 million and is a constitutional monarchy, with King Felipe as head of state and the prime minister as head of government. King Felipe’s father, Juan Carlos, abdicated in 2014 after a corruption investigation and controversy over an elephant hunting trip taken during Spain's financial crisis. He moved to Abu Dhabi in 2020 amid further scrutiny of his financial affairs and private life. There have been calls for greater autonomy or full independence in some parts of the country. In 2011 the Basque separatist group Eta ended its armed activity but campaigners are still calling for independence for the region. In 2017 Catalan separatists declared independence for their region. The bid was declared illegal and nine people were jailed but later pardoned. Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union, at more than 13 per cent at the end of 2021.