The king’s Christmas speech has sparked the first criticism from some of Pedro Sánchez’s investiture partners, such as Sumar, Podemos, ERC and the BNG, and has only so far received express support from the PP and Vox.
In his Christmas message, the king has appealed to compliance with the Constitution as a guarantee of unity and progress and has warned that if the fundamental norm is not respected, “there is no democracy or coexistence possible”, nor law, nor peace, nor freedom, but “imposition and arbitrariness.”
These are the main political reactions to Felipe VI’s speech broadcast this Christmas Eve:
“A disappointing speech. 1. It is not polarization, it is the extreme right against democracy. 2. Nothing about social rights and daily life. 3. Plurinationality, absent. Felipe VI has chosen not to talk about social rights and concerns of citizens to expose today the most restrictive interpretation of the Constitution. In short, in the past. A discourse far from the real country.”
“A speech without a single mention of the genocide in Palestine and with desperate attempts to gain the sympathy of the right that a few weeks ago insulted him. More and more convinced that the monarchy has definitively been left behind and that Felipe VI is going to be latest”.
Gabriel Rufián reacted tonight to the king’s Christmas speech by publishing a photo of himself as a child greeting Franco with the following message: “What there was when there was no Constitution.”
“Felipe de Borbón’s speech is a position taken with the most reactionary and immobile sectors of the State.” “Felipe de Borbón does not even try to empathize with the problems of the majority of society and does consciously take a political position due to the discourse that the right and the extreme right are currently making.”
“In his Christmas message, King Felipe VI has defended the validity of the Constitution as the only guarantor of coexistence and a future with certainty for all. Outside of respect for the Constitution and institutions there is no law but arbitrariness.”
“Spain and the Constitution. At a time when there is a clear objective of overflowing our common rules, His Majesty the King has been resounding in defending the unity of Spanish society. Outside of the Constitution there is no law. Long live the King !”
“Unity, harmony and respect. His Majesty’s words are a call to overcome division and defend the constitutional framework that led to full democracy. A message worthy of the circumstances we are experiencing. Galicia will continue to be faithful to the Constitution “.
“Outside the Constitution there is no Spain in peace and freedom.” The King warns that without respect for the Magna Carta “there is no democracy or coexistence possible.”
Vox has reacted to the king’s Christmas speech by reproducing a literal phrase from the monarch’s speech in which he said that “Spain will continue forward” aware of its historical reality as a nation.