King's Christmas speech calls for 'unity': “A society divided never progresses”

SPAIN'S reigning monarch, King Felipe VI, has given his ninth annual Christmas speech on TV with a call to unity in government to find solutions for society in light of inflation and the effects of the war in Ukraine.

HRH Felipe, who was crowned in summer 2014 after his father, King Juan Carlos I, abdicated, made repeated reference to the Constitution which the latter played a major part in forming and bringing into effect on December 6, 1978, spelling the dawn of a new era in which Spain became a modern, democratic country with full human rights guaranteed to all residents.

Reigning monarchs do not, as a rule, express political opinions in public and are required to remain neutral in order to represent everyone's values, but the televised speech on Christmas Eve night often hints at the King's views.

Major disagreements in government have made headlines recently, largely over the reform of the Criminal Code, which would include much more lenient sentences for 'sedition' – meaning the politicians involved in the unauthorised independence referendum in Catalunya in 2017 would not have been forced into exile abroad to avoid facing up to 20 years in jail.

Whilst recalling that Spain is a young democracy and worked hard to bounce back from the Franco-era dictatorship, King Felipe warned that these achievements should never be taken for granted, since there is 'always a risk of division' and 'institutional erosion'.

He called for 'responsibility' on the part of all players to avoid 'weakening the spirit of the Constitution', and invited them to 'reflect constructively on the consequences' of ignoring these risks.

“World democracies are exposed to many risks that are not new, but which, when they occur, take on a particular intensity nowadays. And Spain is no exception,” the monarch stated.

“There are three risks which I think are very significant: Division being one; deteriorating of harmonious cooperation being another; and the erosion of institutions being the third.

“A country or society divided or in confrontation with each other does not move forward, it doesn't progress and it doesn't solve its own problems well, neither does it generate confidence. Division makes democracies much more fragile whilst, united, we are stronger – something Spain knows through its own experience.”

Spain's Constitution is its greatest exercise in teamwork, King says

Felipe VI recalled that the Constitution, signed 44 years and three weeks ago, was 'the fruit of dialogue and understanding' and is a text which 'represents the union achieved by the people of Spain, as an investment in its future, of diversity and harmony for a young democracy'.

These values have 'become deep-rooted in society' and are a rôle model for people in Spain to follow when 'continuing to seek that unity which ensures stability, cohesion and progress' and 'guarantees harmony' – qualities which the King considers Spain's 'greatest national heritage'.

“This harmonious cooperation requires full recognition of our rights and freedoms, combined with respect and consideration for others, for their values and their dignity; for these reasons, we should be guided by our common sense and put the desire to integrate ahead of any wishes to exclude,” he continued.

The King urged institutions to 'become stronger and more solid' so as to 'protect the people, attend to their worries, guarantee their rights and support families and young people in their battle to get through their day to day problems', and stressed that these institutions existed 'for the greater good'.

Political decisions should be with this 'greater good' as priority, and their instigators should 'exercise their functions with loyal cooperation', always 'respecting the law and the Constitution' in order to be 'an example of integrity'.

“I believe that, at this time, we should all carry out an exercise in responsibility and reflect constructively on the consequences for our union, harmony and institutions of ignoring these risks.

“We cannot take for granted everything we have built up in this democracy – whilst many things have changed, and will continue to change, since the Constitution was signed, the spirit behind its creation, its principles and foundation, which were a team effort between all those involved, should never be weakened nor forgotten,” the monarch said.

“These are unique values in our Constitutional an political history that we need to protect, because they are the place where the people of Spain recognise ourselves and where we accept each other, despite our differences, and where we have lived together in harmony and will continue to live together in harmony.”

Households struggling financially 'need government support'

Although acknowledging that the world in general was facing 'uncertain times', due to the conflict in Ukraine and the knock-on effect of this on global finances – as well as the humanitarian crisis it has generated - the 'success of a nation depends upon the character of its people and the personality and spirit that moves its society', meaning Spain 'has plenty of reasons to look to the future with hope'.

King Felipe VI said it was up to the people of Spain 'to decide their future and the fate of their country together', whilst 'sharing objectives with a permanent spirit of renewal and moving with the times' and with 'confidence' in a Spain which he 'knows well', a nation which is 'courageous and open to the world', which 'seeks peace and tranquillity', is 'responsible, creative, alive, and charitable'.

“This is the Spain I see, I hear, and feel in so many of you – the Spain which, once again, will get through it all, but this is in our hands,” the King stresses.

“Just when we thought we had got through the worst of the pandemic – which was, without a doubt, the best possible news – in February Russia invaded Ukraine and, ever since, we've witnessed 10 months of conflict that has caused a level of destruction and ruin hard to imagine in the context of our own everyday lives,” said Felipe VI, adding his 'regards and affection' to all the people of Ukraine who have 'suffered'.

Even though Spain has 'reinforced its collective defence skills' in light of the crisis in Ukraine and has 'joined the vast majority of the international community in support' of the eastern European nation, 'as seen in the NATO Summit Madrid hosted in June', said the Head of State, many households in Spain are now 'suffering financial consequences' of the conflict.

“Rising prices, especially for food, create insecurity in households. We have to bear day to day expenses such as turning on the heating or the lights or filling our cars with petrol and which end up as a source of real worry – and, in many cases, major personal and family sacrifices,” the monarch recalled.

“There are families who cannot cope with this situation long term and need ongoing support from the powers that be to ease the financial and social effects.

“We cannot ignore how serious these problems are; neither can we give up hope that things might change for the better; but first and foremost is to have confidence in ourselves as a nation, and in the transformation and modernisation Spain has seen in the last four decades thanks to the success of the Transition to democracy and the signing of the Constitution, which are proof of this confidence.

“Also proof of this confidence is how we have got through other financial, social and institutional crises – the most recent being Covid – since we are a country which, like now, has always been capable of stepping up, albeit not without hardship and sacrifices, when faced with all types of adversity. And there have been a number of those in the past few years.”

EU 'represents freedom, safety and growth'

HRH Felipe VI also referred to the European Union as one of the two 'backbones' of Spain's 'present and future', along with 'everyone's commitment to democracy'.

“Europe has represented, and represents, freedom, for Spain too, and contributes to strengthening our democracy, powering our economic growth and our social development. We are Europe, but we also need Europe, as it's our essential political, economic and social framework and which, as a result, offers us certainty and safety,” the King stressed.

“I'm certain that Spain's commitment to the European Union will be reinforced when it is our turn to take over the presidency of the bloc, this coming year,” HRH Felipe concluded.