King of Spain warned independence cannot ignore the rights of the majority

USPA NEWS - King Philip VI of Spain warned Saturday in his message to the nation on the occasion of Christmas Eve that independence cannot despise the rights of all Spaniards and called for dialogue between political forces.

“We cannot accept attitudes or behavior which ignore or denigrate the rights shared by everyone in Spain and which let us organize our lives together. Breaking the rules which guarantee our democracy and freedom can only lead, first, to useless tension and conflict that do not solve any problems, and then, to a poorer society, morally and materially,“ warned King Philip VI in his message to the Spaniards. The monarch also recalled that “the recent complicated political situation has now been resolved. Now it´s important for our society to get back on an even keel and for the citizens to have the certainty they need to get on with their life plans."

Spanish King said: “I would also like to emphasize the point that we must all protect and improve our harmonious coexistence. A harmonious society, first and foremost, always requires respect. Respect and consideration for others, for the elderly, between men and women, at school, at work; respect for the natural environment we share and which gives us life. Respect and consideration too, for ideas different to our own. There can be no place for intolerance and exclusion, negating other people and rejecting the value of other opinions, in today´s Spain.“

Philip VI stressed the need to promote education as a guarantee of the future and asked to move away from political debate. He also called for greater investments in research and technology. “Because now is the time to think of the Spain we want for the coming decades, the country which will belong to today´s young people, and to build strong foundations for it. And to do this, we must concentrate our energy on looking at the world around us and seeing clearly where it is going,“ said the King.

“And I have no doubt that we will be able to overcome them if we understand that these are not times to fence ourselves off, but to open ourselves up to the world; if we can see that this is no time for splits and internal divisions, but rather, we should emphasize the things that unite us, building on the foundation of our diversity; this is the time for our core values, a Spain of open arms and helping hands, where nobody awakens old resentments or reopens wounds which have healed. In sort, this is a time when we have very powerful motives and reasons for unity, for all of us to work together, from every place in this great country, with optimism, with ideals, and with projects for a better Spain,“ added.