The coming of age of the Princess of Asturias, Elionor de Borbó, who turned 18 on October 31, will most likely take place without the mystery of Pedro Sánchez’s investiture having yet been resolved.
And in a context of maximum political polarization, moreover, while the right-wing clamors against a breakup of Spain and a breakdown of the Constitution for which they blame the socialist candidate for re-election, for his possible agreements with the Catalan and Basque independenceists. Even some of the most reactionary sectors have turned against Felipe VI, for entrusting the investiture to Sánchez after the failed attempt by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and accuse him of being “complicit in the coup d’état against democracy”. as could be seen in some banners of the demonstration held on Sunday in Barcelona.
In other words, for Sánchez, Princess Eleonor’s coming of age may be the best opportunity to claim the Crown, the Constitution, democracy and the institutions of the State, in an attempt to preserve them from the storms of partisan disputes.
All this was evident in the appearance yesterday in Moncloa of the spokesperson of the Spanish Government and the Minister of the Presidency in office, the socialists Isabel Rodríguez and Félix Bolaños, at the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers that agreed activate the solemn ceremony of the oath of the Constitution of the heir to the throne, in addition to granting her the collar of the order of Charles III.
At the proposal of the acting head of the Executive himself, as Bolaños said, the Council of Ministers agreed to request the General Courts to hold a joint session of the two legislative chambers – Congress and the Senate – because the Princess of Asturias takes an oath of adherence to the Constitution on October 31, on the occasion of her coming of age, according to the constitutional mandate in article 61.
The acting Minister of the Presidency highlighted the “enormous historical, legal and also symbolic significance” that this oath of Eli onor will have, “to faithfully carry out his duties, to keep and have the Constitution kept, to fulfill and respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities and to keep loyalty to the King”.
“No one escapes us the enormous symbolic burden that this oath has”, stressed Bolaños. Because in a solemn ceremony in front of the General Courts, where national sovereignty resides, he pointed out that the Princess of Asturias will commit to the Constitution. But the oath will also have a relevant legal dimension, as he explained, since it will be the manifestation that has the vocation to assume the direction of the State at the appropriate time.
By means of this solemn ceremony in front of the Courts, Bolaños celebrated, “the continuity of the Crown” in Spain is guaranteed. “It will be an act in which the strength of our democracy will be demonstrated”, the minister stressed.
Firstly, because the continuity of the Crown will be guaranteed, “an absolutely central institution in our political system”, according to the minister. Secondly, because in this ceremony “the fundamental values ??of the Constitution, equality, freedom and pluralism will be reaffirmed”, which Elionor will assume. And finally, because “the ability of the monarchy to adapt to the times will be demonstrated”. It will be proven, said Bolaños, that “the Constitution and the monarchy are capable of integrating all the visions that coexist in the country”. Despite the fact that pro-independence formations insist on not participating in any event of the Royal House.
With the full coordination of “three basic institutions of democracy”, Bolaños pointed out with reference to the General Courts, the Royal House and the Government, the ceremony on October 31 will be based on his, for now, most recent precedent in Spain: the oath of the then Prince of Asturias, today Felipe VI, on January 30, 1986.
The oath of the Constitution of Elion or will take place in the Congress, in an act in which the president, Francina Armengol, will deliver a speech, as the fellow socialist Gregorio Peces-Barba, then president of the Lower Chamber, already did in 1986. On that occasion, the president of the Generalitat, Jordi Pujol, and the lehendakari, José Antonio Ardanza, along with all the regional presidents, did attend.
The ceremony will then move to the Royal Palace, where Felipe VI will award his heir the collar of the royal order of Charles III, “the highest honorary distinction among the civil orders in Spain”, as explained by Bolaños. In this event, the heir to the throne and also the acting president of the Spanish Government will take the floor, as did the Prince, and current King, and the then head of the Executive, Felipe González, 37 years ago.
After these solemn institutional acts, a “private and family” act will take place.
