Catalan president breaks 15-year absence at Constitution Day ceremony

Catalan president Salvador Illa made history by becoming the first leader in 15 years to attend the annual Constitution Day celebration at the Spanish Congress.

After a long-standing boycott by successive pro-independence parties, the Socialist leader took part in the event in Madrid on Friday.

Just before the ceremony began, Illa stated that the Constitution is "the result of an agreement between diverse groups" and serves as "a symbol of unity among different visions."

"Those who appropriate the Constitution are the ones who harm it. They misunderstand it and do it no favors, especially when they use it as a weapon," Illa said, adding that "the best way to defend it is not by claiming ownership of it."

The Socialist leader acknowledged that the Constitution has enabled "significant progress," but emphasized that much remains to be done, particularly in areas such as housing.