Felipe VI sends a constructive message promoting coexistence, exemplary behavior, trust, and unity in Spain as a great country
Standing in the Hall of Columns at the Royal Palace, with a serious but friendly expression and a convincing tone, King Felipe VI addressed the Spanish people with a constructive Christmas message, emphasizing the values that have enabled Spain to progress over the last 50 years of democracy and with its entry into the European Union, in order to overcome the crisis of confidence it is suffering so that it does not affect coexistence.
Without directly mentioning the causes of the crisis of confidence, such as corruption, polarization, or sexual assault, Felipe VI pointed out that “we are certainly living in demanding times,” citing the increase in the cost of living, access to housing, job uncertainty, and climate phenomena, and issued a clear warning to policymakers by stating that "We have many challenges... And citizens also perceive that the tension in public debate causes weariness, disenchantment, and disaffection. These are all realities that cannot be resolved with rhetoric or voluntarism."
Immediately afterwards, the king offered solutions because “our country has repeatedly shown that it knows how to respond to internal and external challenges when there is will, perseverance, and vision for the country.” He recalled that “Spain has progressed when we have been able to find shared goals. And the root of any shared project is necessarily coexistence,” and he claimed, "but coexistence is not an everlasting legacy. It is not enough to have received it: it is a fragile construct. For this reason, we must all make caring for coexistence our daily task. And for this we need trust.“
At this point, the monarch placed special emphasis on ensuring that: ”In this turbulent world, where multilateralism and the world order are in crisis, democratic societies are going through, we are going through, a disturbing crisis of confidence. And this reality seriously affects the morale of citizens and the credibility of institutions.“ He issued a serious warning about one of the most serious consequences: ”Extremism, radicalism, and populism feed on this lack of trust, misinformation, inequality, disenchantment with the present, and doubts about how to approach the future."
For those who do not take history into account, he recalled “the dire consequences” we suffered in Spain, with duties for all, referring to the historical approach taken by US President JF Kennedy: "It is up to all of us to preserve confidence in our democratic coexistence. Let us ask ourselves, without looking at anyone else, without seeking to blame others: what can each of us do to strengthen that coexistence? What red lines should we not cross?“
And in the spirit of his Christmas message calling for unity of action: ”I am talking about dialogue, because the solutions to our problems require the cooperation, responsibility, and commitment of everyone; I am talking about respect in language and listening to the opinions of others; I am talking about exemplary behavior in the performance of all public authorities; I am also talking about empathy; and the need to place human dignity, especially that of the most vulnerable, at the center of all discourse and all policy."
Once again, Felipe VI emphasized the path to follow to overcome the crisis of confidence and concluded by highlighting Spain's value in the world: "We are a great country. Spain is full of initiative and talent, and I believe that the world needs—more than ever—our sensitivity, our creativity and our capacity for work, our sense of justice and fairness, and our firm commitment to Europe, its principles, and its values.“ He once again advocated for unity: ”We can achieve our goals, with successes and mistakes, if we undertake them together, with everyone proudly participating in this great project of living together that is Spain."
Full text of King Felipe VI's Christmas message
Good evening. Forty years ago, in this very Hall of Columns of the Royal Palace in Madrid, the treaty was signed that brought us into the European Communities. It has also been 50 years since the beginning of our democratic transition. These anniversaries encourage me to speak to you on this Christmas Eve about coexistence; about our democratic coexistence, through the memory of the path we have traveled and our confidence in the present and the future.
The Transition was, above all, a collective exercise in responsibility. It arose from a shared desire to build a future of freedoms based on dialogue. Those who led that process ultimately succeeded in making the Spanish people as a whole the true protagonists of their future and in enabling them to fully assume their sovereign power. Even with their differences and doubts, they were able to overcome their disagreements and transform uncertainty into a solid starting point, without any certainty of achieving what they sought. That courage—to move forward without guarantees, but united—is one of the most valuable lessons they taught us.
The result of that momentum was our 1978 Constitution, the set of shared goals on which our present and our living together are built, a framework broad enough to accommodate us all, in all our diversity.
Our incorporation into the European integration process was another decisive, exciting, and mobilizing step. It was also the result of a collective commitment: that of a country that wanted to close a chapter marked by a prolonged estrangement from a Europe with which we share principles and values and a common project for the future. Europe not only brought modernization and economic and social progress: it strengthened our democratic freedoms.
This historical perspective helps us to see that Spain has undergone an unprecedented transformation over the last five decades, which has allowed for the consolidation of democratic freedoms, political pluralism, decentralization, openness to the outside world, and prosperity.
Our society is forged by generations who remember the Transition and by others who did not experience it and who were born and raised in democracy and freedom. Older generations who have seen Spain change like never before in our history; generations of adults who, with great effort, balance work, family, and personal responsibilities; and generations of young people who now face new challenges with initiative and commitment.
All of them are necessary to move forward in a fair and cohesive manner. And I address all of them.
We certainly live in demanding times. Many citizens feel that the rising cost of living limits their options for progress; that access to housing is an obstacle to the plans of so many young people; that the speed of technological advances creates job uncertainty; or that climate phenomena are an increasingly significant and sometimes tragic factor. We face many challenges... And citizens also perceive that the tension in public debate causes weariness, disenchantment, and disaffection. These are realities that cannot be resolved with rhetoric or voluntarism alone.
Over the past 50 years, our country has repeatedly demonstrated that it knows how to respond to internal and external challenges when there is will, perseverance, and vision for the country. We have seen this in economic crises, health emergencies, and natural disasters, and we also see it every day in the quiet and responsible work of millions of people.
Spain has progressed when we have been able to find common goals. And the root of any shared project is necessarily coexistence. I have referred to this on previous occasions, but it is the basis of our democratic life. Those who came before us were able to build it even in difficult circumstances, such as those of 50 years ago.
But coexistence is not an everlasting legacy. It is not enough to have received it: it is a fragile construct. For this reason, we must all make caring for coexistence our daily task. And for that we need trust.
In this turbulent world, where multilateralism and the world order are in crisis, democratic societies are going through, we are going through, a disturbing crisis of confidence. And this reality seriously affects the mood of citizens and the credibility of institutions.
Extremism, radicalism, and populism feed on this lack of trust, on misinformation, on inequalities, on disenchantment with the present, and on doubts about how to approach the future.
It is not enough to remember that we have already been there, that we already know that chapter of history and that it had dire consequences. It is up to all of us to preserve confidence in our democratic coexistence. Let us ask ourselves, without looking at anyone else, without seeking to blame others: what can each of us do to strengthen that coexistence? What red lines should we not cross?
I am talking about dialogue, because the solutions to our problems require the cooperation, responsibility, and commitment of all; I am talking about respect in language and listening to the opinions of others; I am talking about exemplary behavior in the performance of all public powers; I am also talking about empathy; and the need to place human dignity, especially that of the most vulnerable, at the center of all discourse and all policy.
Let us remember—on this Christmas Eve—that in a democracy, our own ideas can never be dogmas, nor can the ideas of others be threats; that moving forward consists of taking steps, with agreements and concessions, but in the same direction, not running at the expense of the other's downfall; that Spain is, above all, a shared project: a way of bringing together—and realizing—individual interests and aspirations around the same notion of the common good.
Every historical period has its own challenges. There are no easy paths. Ours are no more or less difficult than those of our parents or grandparents. But we have a great asset: our ability to walk them together.
Let us do so with the memory of these 50 years and let us do so with confidence. Fear only builds barriers and generates noise, and barriers and noise prevent us from understanding reality in all its breadth.
We are a great country. Spain is full of initiative and talent, and I believe that the world needs—more than ever—our sensitivity, our creativity and our capacity for work, our sense of justice and fairness, and our firm commitment to Europe, its principles, and its values.
We can achieve our goals, with successes and mistakes, if we undertake them together, with everyone proudly participating in this great project of living together that is Spain.
With the conviction that we will be able to move forward together in this direction, please accept my best wishes for these days and the new year, together with those of the Queen and our daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
Merry Christmas to all. Eguberri on, Bon Nadal, Boas Festas.