Nicolás de Gancia
Nicolás de Gancia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President-elect of Escandria | |
| Assuming office 31 December 2021 | |
| Succeeding | Alfonso Velasco Almánzar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prince Nicolás Juan Carlos Enrique Pablo Alejandro Astugón de Palma 16 September 1980 Madrid, Spain |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Parents | |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
| Signature |  |
Prince Nicolás Astugón de Palma, 5th Duke of Gancia (Nicolás Juan Carlos Enrique Pablo Alejandro; born 16 September 1980), known professionally as Nicolás de Gancia, is a Spanish-Escandrian nobleman, businessman and politician, who is currently President-Elect of Escandria, and the claimant-in-exile to the throne of the former Kingdom of Escandria. He is a male-line descendant and 4x-great-grandson of the last King of Escandria, Juan VI.
In the 2021 Escandrian presidential election, Gancia stood as the candidate for the National Alliance party, who are currently the main opposition party in the country. A deal was struck with the ruling Democratic Party, that if Gancia managed to win the presidency, the government would hold a referendum on restoration of the monarchy within a year of the election. This was a result of growing unrest and popular unhappiness with the government, and in particular the leadership of First Minister Octávia Montero Alamilla.
In a shock result, Gancia obtained the largest share of the vote, beating out incumbent President Alfonso Velasco Almánzar. He will be installed as President on December 31, 2021.
Early life
Prince Nicolás Juan Carlos Enrique Pablo Alejandro Astugón de Palma was born on 16 September 1980 in Madrid, Spain. His father, Prince Enrique, 4th Duke of Gancia, was a politician, and his mother, Princess Sophie Charlotte of Solms-Assenheim, came from a German princely family. Prince Nicolás has three siblings; Prince Pedro (born 1982), Prince Carlos (born 1985), and Princess Carmen (born 1987).
Marriage and children
In 2003, Prince Nicolás met Princess Katharina of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in Barcelona. Princess Katharina had been in Spain on a study exchange, at the same university as Prince Nicolás. After a short period of dating, the couple got engaged on Christmas Day 2003, and were married at Almudena Cathedral on 28 June 2004. Katharina adopted the Spanish cognate of her name, Catalina.
Prince Nicolás and Princess Catalina have six children:
- Prince Adrián Benjamín Carlos Daniel Édgar Astugón de Palma (born 1 March 2005)
- Prince Felipe Graciano Hugo Ildefonso Juan Astugón de Palma (born 9 December 2007)
- Prince Luciano Mateo Nicolás Octávio Pedro Astugón de Palma (born 17 September 2010)
- Princess Rosalía Sofía Tatiana Úrsula Violeta Astugón de Palma (born 17 July 2012)
- Princess Victoria Ximena Yesenia Zaira Astugón de Palma (born 5 May 2014)
- Princess Alba María Catalina Sara Luisa Astugón de Palma (born 23 June 2021)
Titles and styles
- 16 September 1980 - 4 April 2019: His Highness Prince Nicolás Astugón de Palma
- 4 April 2019 - present: His Highness Prince Nicolás Astugón de Palma, 5th Duke of Gancia, Grandee of Spain