The King has taken advantage of the Christmas message this year, when millions of Spaniards listen to his words before sitting down to Christmas Eve dinner, to highlight the challenges and priorities that, in his opinion, Spain faces as a society. In the face of a “sometimes thunderous” political contest, in his words, the head of state has called for “serenity” and “high-level” dialogue between the various political forces to face the great challenges, including access to housing, the management of immigration and international political instability.
The memory of , leaving 231 dead and four missing, has been the protagonist in the speech: “We must never forget the pain and sadness that it has left [la tragedia] in their families,” he insisted along with a photograph – the only one of the stage in which he recorded his speech – in which civilian volunteers and soldiers are seen removing mud from the streets of Paiporta. “We have seen – and understood – the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination of the administrations” in the management of the tragedy, stated the King, who has requested that aid reach “to everyone who needs them.”
The King’s eleventh speech since it was proclaimed on June 19, 2014 had raised great expectations. Not only because it falls within the tenth anniversary of his reign, but also because, although the Government gives its final approval, it is the first that he has prepared together with the new head of the King’s House, who throughout this year He has led La Zarzuela. Through the speeches the priorities of the head of state can be glimpsed. In addition to placing the dana as the great priority and paying tribute to the neighbors, volunteers, civil protection, firefighters, security forces, Armed Forces, NGOs, and companies that have donated funds for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the floods, The King wanted to send a clear message to public servants: dialogue, generosity and serenity are required.
“It is necessary that the political conflict, legitimate, but sometimes thunderous, does not prevent us from hearing an even more clamorous demand: a demand for serenity,” said the head of state before, as usual, the flags of Spain and the Union. European Union (EU) and a facsimile of the 1978 Constitution, its great reference in “spirit and letter”. The King has regretted the climate in which the political debate “frequently” takes place – of which he has not made any allusion to corruption – and has asked that it “not become a constant background noise that prevents hearing the true pulse.” of the citizens.”
He gave several winks to that anonymous citizenry to whom he addressed this Tuesday. “Above the possible divergences and disagreements, a clear idea of what is appropriate, of what benefits everyone, prevails in Spanish society,” he said. A “common good” that Felipe VI has repeated up to seven times throughout his speech, which took place in the Hall of Columns of the Royal Palace (Madrid). The environment chosen for the speech has strong symbolism. There the entry of Spain into the EU was signed – an event that will be celebrated 40 years ago in 2025 -, there he gave the speech for the tenth anniversary of his proclamation as monarch -, he said -, there he gave Princess Leonor the Fleece of Gold in 2018, and there he decorated anonymous citizens with the Civil Merit medal last June.
The “complex” phenomenon of immigration
In the little more than 15 minutes of message (1,806 words) recorded for the first time since 2015 in the Royal Palace and not in La Zarzuela, Felipe VI has given great relevance to the . According to Interior data, 31,155 people arrived in Spain irregularly by land, sea and air until September, 66% more than the previous year. The immigration issue has also marked the pace of public debate due to the impossibility of reaching an agreement to redistribute among the communities the more than 5,000 migrant minors who live overcrowded in centers in the Canary Islands when the Government encountered the refusal of the Popular Party.
Without adequate management, Felipe VI continued, the debate could lead to tensions that “erode social cohesion.” Given this, the King has invited reflection: a greater effort is required in integration, but accompanied by a firm fight against mafias and human trafficking networks. The King has also recalled that the immigration debate must take place in an aligned manner. “The way in which we are able to address immigration (…) will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy,” he warned.
Difficulties in accessing housing
Another of the great issues that the head of State has put on the table has been the one that this year has provoked. Felipe VI has mentioned the difficulties suffered by the youngest and has introduced the need for dialogue between public powers – “which all the actors involved reflect, listen to each other”― so that they facilitate access to housing in “affordable conditions.” Not in vain, between 2015 and 2023, buying a home in Spain became more expensive by 47%, and renting by 58%, while household income grew less. Furthermore, Spain is one of the countries in Europe with the least social rent: just 2.5%, far from the 17% in France and the United Kingdom or the 30% in the Netherlands.
Two decades ago, 600,000 homes were built in Spain in one year. But with the financial crisis the cranes were suddenly removed and since then only about 90,000 homes have been built each year. There are also no protected houses (at an affordable price) to sell: for almost a decade, only 12% of the homes built in Spain are publicly protected.
Human rights in question
In the geopolitical field, with several first-level armed conflicts in the confines of the EU to which he has not made direct reference ―, , , or the ―, the King has worried about how “too often” it is called into question international law, respect for human rights or “multilateralism to confront global challenges” such as “climate and environmental crises.” For this reason, Spain and the EU “must defend the bases of liberal democracy,” he asked.
“Europe – the idea of Europe – is an essential part of our shared identity, of the legacy that we must leave to future generations,” he remarked with hope before wishing a “very merry Christmas” with Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía; and say goodbye in the three co-official languages: Merry Christmas, Bon Nadal, Boas Festas.
