DHAKA: Most Spaniards want their new king, Felipe, to play a greater role in politics and build bridges between the country’s divided parties and regions.

A poll showed on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

Spain’s monarchy has tried stay out of the intricacies of factional rivalries in recent years, though King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos, is widely credited with helping smooth the country’s transition to democracy in the 1970s after the Francisco Franco dictatorship.

The poll in newspaper El Pais suggested three quarters of Spaniards thought King Felipe, sworn in on Thursday after the abdication of his father, should personally push parties to reach agreements on Spain’s problems if politicians failed to do so, reports The Straits Times.

The findings echoed widespread frustration over bickering between the governing centre-right People’s Party and the main opposition Socialist PSOE during debates on recent legislation, such as on increasing transparency and fighting corruption.

BDST: 2104 HRS, JUNE 22, 2014