Juan Carlos to the Fore

Since Spain's constitution pledges an eventual restoration of the monarchy, Spaniards have long scanned the official press for clues as to which of the Borbóns Generalissimo Francisco Franco, 75, might pick to fill the long-vacant throne. Monarchist activists pin their hopes on exiled Pretender Don Juan, 55, a moderate who favors evolution toward parliamentary democracy. Many Falangist regulars lean toward his son, Juan Carlos, 30, in the belief that the carefully schooled younger man would prove willing to stick with the regime's less flexible principles.

Franco's personal sympathies have been clear for some time. Distrustful of Don Juan, he played a major role in arranging the young prince's Spanish education and made sure that it included commissions from all three military academies. Last week he tipped his hand further by creating the title of "heir to the throne," which could put Juan Carlos in No. 2 position on the protocol ladder—right behind him. Now all that remains is for Juan Carlos to be formally declared the heir.

Before Franco made his move, Juan Carlos made a key decision of his own. Until recently, the prince (and husband of Greece's Princess Sophie, stormy Frederika's daughter) often vowed that he would "never, never" accept the throne as long as his father remained alive. This year, at last convinced that Don Juan could never become King, Juan Carlos began staking out his own claim. The prince still has no assurance, of course, that he will ever assume the throne and, even if the monarchy is restored, Franco has not specified what power it would have after he leaves. Meantime, a family feud may be brewing because of Juan Carlos' new willingness to bypass his father.