The Senate commemorates the 'Contubernio' that paved the way for Spanish democracy
On the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the celebration of the Munich Treaty (Contubernio), the Senate, under the organisation of the European Movement, has hosted a new seminar marked by agreement and democratic spirit. The day was divided into two parts, with two round tables that were attended by the children of former members of the Council and different political personalities, together with two members of the Munich anniversary, Carlos María Bru and Xabier Echevarría.
The event began with the introductory words of the President of the Spanish Federal Council of the European Movement, Francisco Aldecoa Luzarraga, after stating that this event arose "as a consequence of meetings that have been held in Munich, as the European Movement has always been linked to the European chambers"
In the same way, he celebrated the important and strong "participation of young people in Munich in 1962" and compared it with the current presence of young people in the Movement as active and integral forces. Aldecoa opened the seminar by concluding that "we are committed to the Conference" and welcomed the opportunity to be able to hold this event in person in such a symbolic place as the Senate, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along these lines, the Secretary of State for the European Union, Juan González Barbas, spoke at the seminar after affirming that, after the contubernium, "Spain fulfilled the longing of many decades after achieving integration into Europe and reaching political consensus". González went on to say that "we must be faithful to that democratic spirit in which concord is the basis" and pay tribute to "those compatriots who laid the foundations of what Spain is today and marked out the path to the establishment of democracy". According to the secretary, "in this act we honour and remember the protagonists".
Similarly, the President of the Senate, Pilar Llop, stressed that it is an "honour" to be able to celebrate this day, as "we pay tribute to the 118 compatriots and many more, who, from civil society, united as democratic opposition and laid the foundations for the Union of Spain with the rest of Europe". The president went on to say that "people from opposing sides during the Civil War were able to work together and reach political consensus at the fourth congress of the European Movement held in Munich that year". Llop also stressed that the signatories "opened the way for the rule of law in the darkest moments of Franco's regime".
The first round table dealt with the theme: "From the government to the transition: civil society at the heart of Spanish and European democracy", with Laura Baeza Giralt, Miguel Satrústegui, Cristina Ruiz Navarro, Pepe Pons and Carlos Barros de Lis.
In this respect, Miguel Satrústegui stressed "the essentially democratic nature" of the seminar, and underlined the democratisation of the contubernium after people from different political ideologies, mostly including socialists and liberals, managed to sit down and come together to agree on a common challenge: Spanish democracy. Satrústegui concluded his speech with a heartfelt dedication to the former members of the Contubernio, emphasising his "honour and gratitude to the 118 in Munich".
On the other hand, one of the daughters of one of the Munich participants, Cristina Ruiz Navarro, stated that the participants "made a peaceful Spanish transition possible and, therefore, have made democracy possible". Along the same lines, the Spanish ambassador, José María Pons, added that the celebration "provided a European vision for the future of Spain".
The second round table dealt with the subject of "From the contubernium to the future of Europe" and was attended by José María Gil Robles telematically, together with Xabier Echebarria, Carlos María Bru Puron, Leye Arrieta and Ricardo Gómez Laorga.
Likewise, the former President of the European Parliament and Honorary President of the CFEME and the MEI, José María Gil Robles, continued, stating that "the government played a fundamental role, which managed to link up with European politics and come to an agreement with its enemies" since, according to the foundations, "the future was going to be one of concord". In this sense, the concept of transversal concord has taken on a fundamental relevance in this process, together with dialogue and negotiated solutions.
In this respect, the Honorary President of the CFEME and participant in the Munich Council, Carlos María Bru Puron, stated that "reaching a Europe of agreement is very beneficial for all Europeans in the long run, in order to solve complex problems".
On the other hand, one of the participants in the Council, Xabier Echebarría, stressed that "Spain is possibilist, understanding and plural" and stated that the meeting "was not attended by communists or representatives of the regime, but by those who carried the baggage of freedom", in such a way that they shaped "the image of the Spain of the transition".
Finally, historian Ricardo Gómez Laorga argued that the Contubernio managed to "spread Europeanism for a Spain that was looking inward" and that those young people who went to Munich, with the illusion of the Europeanism that was germinating in Spain, tried to achieve democracy in Spain along with the country's entry into the European commissions". Laorga praised the current presence of young people in the European Movement and said that we must "defend and instil European values in future generations" and that "the young people of the 21st century must make our voice heard in the European Union".
The event ended with a final speech by the President, Francisco Aldecoa, who declared that "this is going to be the start of a series of activities to highlight the value of what Munich has been".