Spain's King: "The Constitution will prevail"

Barcelona (CNA).- Spain's King Philip VI set himself out as the guarantor of Spain's unity and sent a message to all the Spanish citizens: "the Constitution will prevail". At a ceremonial event of the 'Marca España' ('Spain Brand') initiative held this Thursday in Madrid, Philip VI assured that Spain "won't allow that its unity could be questioned, as it is the base of its people’s peaceful and free coexistence". "It is not the time to go back to the past" he stated "but to reaffirm ourselves in our compromise with a present and a future full of shared progress and democratic coexistence". "As head of the State", he concluded, "I will always be by all Spanish citizens' side". Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García Margallo, also attended the 'Marca España' event and warned that "Catalonia's independence will lead to poverty" and "expulsion" from the United Nations. 

The Spanish King's statements come on the day after the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) suspended the Parliament's declaration to start the independence process and on the same day the official notification from the TC arrived at the Parliament.

Philip VI emphasised that Spain "takes its guide from compliance with the law, a democratic law born from our Constitution".

"In our long history we have been able to overcome great difficulties and major challenges" he assured, "now is not the time to go back to the past" he stated "but to reaffirm ourselves in our compromise with a present and a future full of shared progress and democratic coexistence".

Spain's King was attending a ceremonial event of the 'Marca España' initiative, during which many personalities from the cultural, economic and sporting spheres were honoured by Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García Margallo. Margallo also commented on Catalonia's push for independence and assured that if it does achieve it, it will "lead to the poverty of its people". Moreover, he assured that an independent Catalonia will be "expelled from the United Nations". Margallo stated that "nobody" outside Spain understands the pro-independence aspirations nor the will to dynamite the "common project which is Spain". Finally, he emphasised the need to appreciate 'Spain's Brand'.

The TC's resolution arrives at the Parliament

The Parliament's President, Carme Forcadell, and the members of the Parliament's Bureau received this Thursday the formal notification of the pro-independence declaration's suspension by the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC). The document highlights the "obligation to avoid" any action which "ignores" the TC's resolution and warns the public servants of the "legal and penal" responsibilities that this would imply.