In his 10th Christmas Eve television address of his reign, Felipe VI focused almost exclusively on restoring the 1978 Statute, which this year celebrated its 45th anniversary, to highlight as “the best example of union and coexistence among the Spanish people.”
In his Christmas message, the King of Spain called for adherence to the Constitution as a guarantee of unity and progress, and warned that if the Basic Law was not respected, “there is no democracy or possible coexistence,” but rather “imposition and arbitrariness.”
In his 10th Christmas Eve television address of his reign, Felipe VI focused almost exclusively on restoring the 1978 Statute, which this year celebrated its 45th anniversary, to highlight as “the best example of union and coexistence among the Spanish people.”
The king said that the constitution was also the key that allowed “to overcome the division that was the cause of many mistakes” in Spanish history and that “opened wounds, broke emotions and separated people.”
Preventing the seeds of discord from spreading among us is a moral duty for all of us. “We cannot allow ourselves to do this,” the Spanish president said in his recorded message at Zarzuela Palace.
Philip VI stressed that any citizen has the right to “think, express himself, and defend his ideas freely and with respect for others,” but at the same time he stressed that democracy requires “fundamental and broad agreement” with the Basic Law as a reference. .
“Without respect for the Constitution, there is no democracy and no possibility of coexistence; There are no freedoms, only imposition. There is no law, but arbitrariness. Outside the Constitution, Spain is neither at peace nor at liberty.
The King's Christmas message comes in a context marked by the new phase of Pedro Sanchez's government and its alliances with the two Catalan independence parties. It also coincides with a moment of political tension and lack of understanding between the executive authority and the Popular Party in order to reach agreement on important issues.
On the Spanish throne since 2014, the monarch has made a point of defending the unity of Spain and a common vision that “recognizes the right of every person to feel and be respected in his personality and culture, in his languages, traditions and institutions.”
We have demonstrated and, above all, defended our constitutional values when they have been called into question or put in jeopardy. We also did it all together and according to the constitutional framework decided by all Spaniards.”
