Spanish King to the European Parliament: “I’m European because I’m Spanish”

Strasbourg (CNA).- The Spanish Monarch, Philip VI, defended this Wednesday at Strasbourg’s plenary his status as European and subjected it to the condition of being Spanish, “I’m European because I’m Spanish” he stated. The King also assured that the EU can count “on a united Spain, which is proud of its diversity” and “respectful of the rule of law”, he emphasised. “Europe has been built on the basis of adding rather than deducting, of uniting rather than dividing and the ability to share and be supportive” he stated. The Spanish King praised the Constitution and described it as “the great agreement” which “protects the regions in Spain in the exercising of their diverse cultures and traditions, languages, and institutions”. After Philip VI’s speech, Spanish alternative-left Podemos MEP Pablo Iglesias stated that “the king shouldn’t interfere in issues that have to be democratically solved by the citizens”.

“The democratic Spain of the last decades has been based on a solid and sincere will of understanding and agreement between the Spanish citizens” stated Spanish King Philip VI at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg. The monarch added that this will has sustained in the Constitution, which he described as a “great agreement” which “protects the regions in Spain in the exercising of their diverse cultures and traditions, languages, and institutions”.

Spanish left-wing Izquierda Unida’s MEPs left the chamber during the King’s speech as a symbol of protest. Alternative-left Podemos MEPs stayed in the chamber but didn’t applaud the intervention. Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, used the opportunity to criticise Philip VI’s role regarding Catalonia’s push for independence. “A head of state has to be at the height of representing all the citizens and not only a part of them” Iglesias declared to the journalists. “Sadly, it looks like there are some citizens whom are left out by all the political forces and the monarchy as well” he stated, referring to the territorial debate. “The king shouldn’t interfere in issues that have to be democratically solved by the citizens” he concluded.

Liberal party CDC MEP Ramon Tremosa explained on Twitter that he listened “respectfully” to the monarch as he did “with all the rulers that appeared in Strasbourg in the last 5 years”. Tremosa remarked that the speech was “full of pro-unity arguments in the same direction as the Spanish unitary mind-set”. 

Left wing Catalan-nationalist ERC-NeCat MEP Ernest Maragall expressed his “deep disappointment, or rather outrage, at the constant negotiation of the democratic rights as a citizen, as Catalan, as Spanish and as European, that the Spanish state carries out”.

EU’s contribution “has been key” to overcoming the crisis

The Spanish King’s intervention at the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg coincided with the 30^th anniversary of Spain’s joining the EU.  “Europe has been one of the greatest agreements of Spanish society” stated Philip VI and “a horizon of democracy, economic modernisation and social and political regeneration”. During his speech, the monarch emphasised the role of Spain as a “constructive partner, committed with the values and principles of the EU”.

“The recent years haven’t been easy for Spain” admitted the monarch and added that “there still are high rates of unemployment”. “The Spanish had to make big efforts to return to the economic recovery path and to create employment” he stated and added that “the European institutions’ contribution has been key” to overcoming the economic crisis.

“The EU is a story of success that we must recognise, value and admire even more” he assured and called for “building and encouraging” of the European project.