The Chamber of Deputies of Italy welcomed Felipe VI and Letizia this Tuesday, in this rare privilege that It has only been repeated twice―with his father Juan Carlos I in 1998, and with John Paul II in 2002―. The King, face to face with the members of the Italian Congress, has warned that “there is a past that cannot and should not be repeated,”not even as a cartoon“.
In this joint session of the upper and lower houses of Italy, the monarch expressed his “concern“because of how “many treaties, institutions and multilateral forums are suffering accelerated erosion, while their effectiveness is being questioned”, which is “very improvable“The Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, was not present during the conference, but she received the kings hours before at the Bel Respiro casino, where they had lunch.
The monarchs, accompanied by Lorenzo Fontana and Ignazio La Russapresidents of the Italian Congress and Senate, respectively, received prolonged applause upon their arrival from the hundreds of parliamentarians who attended the extraordinary plenary session, where the Italian and Spanish national anthems were performed.
In a broad speech that began in Italian, “despite not having been born in Rome, he said, ―as if his father, Juan Carlos I, was,” the king thanked the privilege granted to very few heads of state foreigners. “And if today I am honored with it, it is because Spain does not consider itself in Italy only as a friendly country, but as a brother countrywhich is the same consideration that Italy has in my country,” he stressed.
“We are two countries with memory, with a clear awareness of the past, and we see with logical concern how many treaties, institutions and multilateral forums are suffering accelerated erosion, while at the same time their effectiveness or the very meaning of their existence is questioned,” the king indicated. He has also called for attention to how these institutions live a “dangerous slide towards something uncertain…and nothing bright. And all this in a complex and volatile global context, with open and latent conflicts.”
Regarding conflicts, Felipe VI has drawn attention to what “fragile” that is peace“even when achieved“. Regarding the war in Ukraine, he highlighted the need to continue “supporting the efforts of Ukrainians in search of a just peace and getting involved in the reconstruction of the country”, while, in relation to the Middle East, he made a new appeal to reach a definitive ceasefirethe release of all the hostages and massive access to humanitarian aid.
“And when the longed for silence of weaponsWe, Spain and Italy will continue to share, no matter how utopian it may seem, the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, as the only possible solution that be durable and fair“, stressed Felipe VI, on one of the several occasions in which he has been applauded by parliamentarians.
Furthermore, he referred to the European Union and its challenges “complex and huge“, both in terms of security, climate crises, energy transition and migration management. “A Europe that must prioritize the promotion of safe, orderly and regular immigration. We must, as Europeans, continue to give immigrants the dignified treatment that is due to every human being“he claimed.
But he considered that “there is no challenge or threat, no matter how serious,” that justifies Europeans moving away from their identity, because the cost that Europe would pay would be “unaffordable.” “let’s not forget“, asked the monarch. Furthermore, he concluded that Italy and Spain need to coordinate more and more, “so that the Mediterranean is an open, prosperous, peaceful and sustainable space.”
After the plenary session the next appointment of the monarch will take place. This time in Roma Capitale, where he will meet with the mayor of the capital, Roberto Gualtieri. Subsequently, the state visit will conclude with a gala dinner.
