Felipe VI appeals to the will of coexistence of the Spaniards to face the future

USPA NEWS - Spain is a strong country that has been able to overcome periods of confrontation that have marked its history. This was said by the King of Spain, Felipe VI, during his Christmas message to the Spaniards. Today, he added, Spain is a modern and democratic country, leading in many scientific and business sectors, capable of addressing its concerns under the mantle of the Constitution. Without mentioning it expressly, except on one occasion, the political situation in Catalonia was present in the monarch's message.

For the fifth consecutive time, Felipe VI addressed his Christmas message to the Spaniards on Christmas Eve. A speech in which he highlighted the responsibility and solidarity of the Spaniards, had a memory for the victims of the recent floods caused by the recurring storms that plague Spain this winter and called for the recovery of the strength of Spanish society.

"It is said - and it is true - that the world does not live easy times," said the monarch. “Maybe they never are at all; but the current ones are, without a doubt, times of great uncertainty, of profound and accelerated changes in many areas that cause concern and concern in society, both inside and outside our country. The new technological and digital era, the direction of the European Union, migratory movements, labor inequality between men and women or the way to face climate change and sustainability, among others... are issues, in short, that are very present and already unequivocally condition our lives. And along with all this," he added, "the lack of employment - especially for our young people - and the economic difficulties of many families, especially those who suffer from greater vulnerability, remain the main concern in our country. It is a fact that in the world - and also here -, in parallel to growth and development, the economic crisis has sharpened the levels of inequality.“

Felipe VI said: "The deterioration of the confidence of many citizens in the institutions, and of course Catalonia, are other serious concerns that we have in Spain." But he warned that “we must have more than ever a firm confidence in ourselves and in Spain, which has always known to break through when we have faced the future with responsibility, with generosity and rigor; with determination, but also with reflection and serenity. And we have plenty of reasons to have that confidence. The progress of a country," added the King, "depends largely on the character of its citizens, the strength of its society and the proper functioning of its State.“

Spain, said the King, “has undergone a very profound transformation, as never before in our history; lives according to values and attitudes shared with other free and democratic societies; it is and feels deeply European and Latin American; and it is not isolated, but very open to the world and fully integrated into the global society. A society that has faced - and has overcome - very difficult situations with admirable serenity and integrity, demonstrating great resistance and maturity. A society, in short, enterprising and generous, that develops great creativity and undisputed leadership in many fields such as engineering, medicine, science, culture, sports or business.“

"We live in a Social and Democratic State of Law that ensures our coexistence in freedom and that has made Spain a modern country," said the monarch. "We must not fall into extremes, or a complacency that silences our shortcomings or mistakes, or a destructive self-criticism that denies the great civic, social and political heritage that we have accumulated," he said. “Without a doubt, much remains to be done, to improve and renew. For this, it is necessary to have a clear and objective awareness of our strengths and weaknesses; and also, have a most realistic and complete vision of how and where the world is going.“

The King recalled that “everything we have achieved has not been generated spontaneously. It is the result, ultimately, that millions of Spaniards, thanks to our Constitution, have shared over the years the same values on which to base our coexistence, our great common projects, our feelings and ideas. In the first place, the desire for harmony that, thanks to responsibility, affection, generosity, dialogue and respect between people of very different ideologies, broke down walls of intolerance, resentment and misunderstanding that had marked many episodes of our history."

“Secondly, the will to understand and integrate our differences into respect for our Constitution, which recognizes the territorial diversity that defines us and preserves the unity that gives us strength. And in the third and last place, the defense and the impulse of solidarity, equality and freedom as the vertebrating principles of our society, making tolerance and respect manifestations of the best civic spirit of our life in common.“

"Spain cannot remain motionless, nor go behind the events," Felipe VI warned. “It has to continue traveling its path, without enclosing itself as in other times of the past and looking up to keep track of the great social, scientific and educational changes that point to the future. The challenges that lie ahead are not simple but, as on so many occasions in our recent history, I am convinced that we will overcome them. Let us trust in ourselves, in our society; let us trust Spain and stay united in the democratic values we share to solve our problems; without divisions or confrontations that only erode our coexistence and impoverish our future,“ he concluded.