MADRID: Spain’s King Juan Carlos turns 70 on Saturday with his popularity still high after 32 years on the throne and an active agenda that offers no signs that he plans abdicate anytime soon in favour of his only son.

The king, who staged a lightening visit to western Afghanistan on the last day of 2007 to visit Spanish troops serving with Nato-led forces in the war-ravaged country, has the highest approval rating of any public figure, according to a Metroscopia poll carried out in October.

The survey found that 69 per cent of Spaniards feel a parliamentary monarchy is the best political system for Spain while 80 per cent believe the country’s transition to democracy would not have been possible without him.

In May he was voted the greatest Spaniard of all time in a television poll, beating explorer Christopher Columbus, painter Pablo Picasso and author Miguel Cervantes.—AFP