Felipe VI warns that “there is no democracy or coexistence” outside the constitution

King Felipe VI has claimed in his traditional Christmas speech that “no democracy nor coexistence” is possible outside the Constitution. The monarch has acknowledged that while there are other issues that concern Spaniards, among which he cited “unacceptable violence against women” or access to housing for young people, he has not mentioned other issues, such as the war in Ukraine or the conflict in the Middle East. , it was his wish to talk about the Constitution and Spain, because “they have a lot to do with the development of our collective life.”

“Without respect for the constitution, no democracy or coexistence is possible; there are no liberties except imposition; there is no law, but arbitrariness,” the king insisted.

But, he added, “for the Constitution to fully develop its mission, it is required not only that we respect it, but also that we preserve its identity, what defines it, what it means” and also “its reason to be that way’. a collective pact of all.” “, and also that “we maintain its integrity as a place of mutual recognition, acceptance and encounter” between all Spaniards.

The King also made it clear that to face the future, “all state institutions,” including the Crown, have the “duty” to act “with the greatest responsibility and always pursue the general interests of all Spaniards with loyalty to the Constitution”.

According to the king, the Constitution made it possible to “overcome the divisions that have been the cause of many mistakes in our history, which have opened wounds, broken affections and distanced people.” For this reason, he added, “preventing the germ of discord from ever establishing itself among us is a moral duty that we all have” and that “we cannot afford.”