It is common that in his Christmas message, the more personal speech of the whole year, the king Philip VI talk about the problems and challenges of citizens: unemployment, the difficulty of young people accessing housing, sexist violence, health, education… This time, however, he refers to these matters in a paragraph and focuses his entire intervention in the Constitution and the unity of Spain.
After a election yearwith PP pacts with Vox in communities and city councils, in summer, and the PSOE agreement with Sumar and the independence and nationalist parties for the investiture of Pedro Sánchezin autumn, Felipe VI has decided to do an essentially political speech.
The Monarch affirms that outside of “respect” for the Magna Carta “there is no law but arbitrariness.”
The Monarch does not even mention the ‘procés’ amnesty law that Sánchez has negotiated with Junts and ERC nor the demonstrations of the PP and the extreme right against the grace measure (in some of which slogans against the monarchy were chanted), but he does warn of the risks of division and puts the Charter Magna of 1978 as the best tool to guarantee “certainty.” “Thanks to the Constitution we managed to overcome the division, which has been the cause of many mistakes in our history; that opened wounds, fractured affections and distanced people. Overcoming this division, therefore, was our main success almost five decades ago. That’s why, Preventing the germ of discord from ever establishing itself among us is a moral duty that we all have.. Because we can’t afford it,” he warns.
No references to Ukraine or Gaza
Felipe VI does not even mention the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and goes directly to talking about the 45 years of the Constitution, which his successor, the Princess of Asturias, swore on October 31. The head of state sees the Magna Carta as the main tool to guarantee the “way of living and understanding life” that Spaniards have enjoyed since the late 70s. Outside of “respect for the Constitution,” he states, “there is no law but arbitrariness.” “Outside the Constitution there is no Spain in peace and freedom,” she emphasizes.
The Monarch emphasizes that the Magna Carta represents the guarantee of political pluralism and “a shared vision of Spain,” which recognizes everyone “the right to be respected.” in his own personality and in its culture; with their languages, traditions and institutions”. And he asks to show his chest for the reaction to adversity: from “exemplary civic behavior” to overcome the covid to “courage” and “principles” demonstrated against terrorism.
The 3-O speech and Puigdemont
The King does not name the ‘procés’ or the 2017 independence referendum, but following those two successes (pandemic and fight against ETA) he highlights that in Spain “constitutional values” have been defended; when they have been “in question or have been put at risk.” In the historic speech that the Monarch made on October 3, 2017, two days after the independence referendum, he asked the State to ensure the “constitutional order and the normal functioning of the institutions.” in the face of Carles Puigdemont’s “inadmissible” disloyalty. The amnesty law seeks that, among other people, the ‘expresident’ benefits from the amnesty.
Calls on institutions to respect each other “in the exercise of their own powers”
In this Christmas address he also talks about the institutions. It asks that each other respect “in the exercise of their own powers.” to “contribute mutually to its strengthening and prestige.” For the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóothe amnesty means it endsr with the separation of powers. For the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, the legislature (Congress) is going to approve a rule that judges will have to apply. As usually happens every year, the parties will interpret the speech that most favors their own interests.
The scenery
Related news
The Monarch assures that the “ultimate reason” of “successes and progress” of recent history has been “unity,” “democratic values,” “cohesion,” and the “solid ties of the State” with the autonomies and the “solidarity between all of them.” And it is in this context that he makes the only reference to the fact that Spain has held the rotating presidency of the European Union this semester. He only highlights that in these months “the unity of Europe has been reinforced.”
The speech, which lasts 11 minutes and 48 seconds and has 1,467 words, It was recorded in the Zarzuela Audience Hall. In the frame, on a dresser, you can see a photograph of the Kings and Infanta Sofía applauding the Princess Eleanor the day he swore the Constitution before the Cortes Generales.