Spanish Pronto Reading Practice

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Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, recently announced his abdication in favor of his son, Felipe, Prince of Asturias. You can read the speech (or listen to it and read along) on the official site of the Spanish royal family. (The excerpt below begins at minute 4:15 of the video.)

Original text:

Cuando
el pasado enero
cumplí
setenta y seis años
consideré
llegado el momento
de preparar
en unos meses
el relevo
para dejar paso
a quien
se encuentra en
inmejorables condiciones
de asegurar esa estabilidad.

El Príncipe de Asturias
tiene
la madurez,
la preparación y
el sentido de la responsabilidad
necesarios
para asumir
con plenas garantías
la Jefatura del Estado
y abrir
una nueva etapa
de esperanza
en la que
se combinen
la experiencia adquirida y
el impulso
de una nueva generación.
Conta
para ello,
estoy seguro,
con el apoyo
que siempre
tend
de la Princesa Letizia.

Por todo ello,
guiado por
el convencimiento de
prestar el mejor servicio
a los españoles
y una vez
recuperado
tanto físicamente
como en mi actividad institucional,
he decidido
poner fin
a mi reinado
y abdicar la Corona de España,
de manera que
por el Gobierno
y las Cortes Generales
se provea a
la efectividad de
la sucesión
conforme a
las previsiones constitucionales.

Así
acabo de
comunicárselo
oficialmente
esta mañana
al Presidente del Gobierno.

Deseo expresar
mi gratitud
al pueblo español,
a todas las personas
que han encarnado
los poderes
y las instituciones
del Estado
durante mi reinado
y a cuantos
me han ayudado
con generosidad y lealtad
a cumplir mis funciones.

Y mi gratitud
a la Reina,
cuya colaboración
y generoso apoyo
no me han faltado
nunca.

Guardo
y guarda siempre
a España
en lo más hondo
de mi corazón.

English text:

When
last January
I reached
seventy-six years (of age)
I considered
the moment to have arrived
to prepare
in a few months
the passing of the baton
to allow passage
to (the one) who
(he) finds himself in
prime condition
to assure that stability.

The Prince of Asturias
(he) has
the maturity,
the (professional) preparation and
the sense of responsibility
necessary
to assume
with full confidence
the position of Head of State
and to open up
a new phase
of hope
in which
(they) are combined
the experience (I have) acquired and
the drive
of a new generation.
(he) will count
for that,
(I) am sure
on the support
that always
(he) will have
from Princess Letizia.

For all (of) that,
guided by
the conviction that (I should)
provide the best service
to the Spanish (people)
and once (I had)
recovered
both physically
as (well as) in my institutional activity,
I have decided
to put (an) end
to my reign
and to abdicate the Crown of Spain,
so that
through the government
and the Parliament
(it) should be provided for
the effecting of
the succession
in accordance with
constitutional provisions.

Therefore
(I) have just finished
communicating it to him
officially
this morning
to the President of the government.

I wish to express
my gratitude
to the Spanish people,
to all the people
who (they) have represented personally
the powers
and the institutions
of the state
during my reign
and to all those who
(they) have helped me
with generosity and loyalty
to fulfill my roles.

And my gratitude
to the Queen,
whose collaboration
and generous support
(they) have not been lacking (to me)
(n)ever.

(I) hold
and (I) will always hold
Spain
in the most deep (part)
of my heart.


This Spanish reading practice is brought to you by this Spanish book available for purchase (click to open in a separate tab or window):

Trabalengüero
("Tongue-twister anthology")


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Revised -- 2014-06-14