King Philip VI of Spain cuts his own salary in austerity drive

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ity-drive.html

King of Spain cuts his own salary in austerity drive

King Felipe VI reduces his pay by 20 per cent, the latest in a string of measures he has introduced since taking the throne to avoid repeat of previous scandals

HM King Philip VI and Queen Letizia

Spain's King Felipe VI has slashed his salary as head of state by 20 percent for 2015, a move in line with his pledges for a more moderate, fewer-frills monarchy.

A palace statement on Tuesday detailing the royal household's 2015 budget said Felipe, 47, would receive 234,204 euros (£174,000), a fifth less than his father and predecessor, Juan Carlos, received as monarch before abdicating last June.

King Juan Carlos I, who retains his honorary title of king, will receive 187,356 euros.

The palace budget, which has been frozen or cut since 2009 as Spain suffered hard economic times, remains unchanged in 2015 at 7.8 million euros.

Felipe has striven to improve the monarchy's image, which has been tarnished by a number of scandals in recent years.

In particular, his father was criticised for hunting elephant in Botswana at a time when ordinary Spaniards were suffering a severe economic crisis.

Last year Felipe banned Royals from accepting expensive gifts, including free flights and luxury holidays.

God he's handsome.

Another good move though by the new Spanish monarch in his first year as the King of Spain. With the financial crisis in Spain and confidence in institutions there falling rapidly, the monarchy became embroiled in it all too which wasn't good at all: so he's got some way to go to repair it although the future is uncertain with the rise of the far-left Podemos Party in the opinion polls ahead of the General Election this year. He knows it too although so far his reign has been off to an impressive start and he's restoring the reputation, albeit slowly.

Thoughts?

[FlyingJesus]

But how will he afford to keep Real Madrid at the top now