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| King Felipe VI |
King
Felipe VI said Tuesday that Spain is experiencing "very grave moments"
for its democratic institutions and that he felt the need to speak
"directly to the Spanish people" on the crisis in Catalonia, where
regional officials pressed ahead with an independence referendum deemed
illegal by Madrid.
In the face of the "irresponsible conduct" of the Catalan regional government, it is the duty of the "legitimate state powers to ensure the constitutional order and the normal functioning of the institutions," the monarch said in a televised address to the nation two dates after the vote in the northeastern region.
Catalan authorities, Felipe said, "have clearly and resoundingly placed themselves outside the law and democracy."
"The have tried to shatter the unity of Spain and the national sovereignty, which is the right of all Spaniards to decide democratically their life in common," the king said.
The Catalan administration "has dismissed the feelings and emotions of solidarity that have united and will unite Spaniards as a whole" and in the process have put in jeopardy "the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain," King Felipe said.
"I know very well that in Catalonia there is also much preoccupation and great dissatisfaction with the conduct of the autonomous authorities. To those who feel that way, I tell you that you are not alone, nor will you be, that you have all the support and solidarity of the rest of the Spanish people, and the absolute guarantee of our rule of law and the defense of your freedom and your rights," the monarch said.
The king ended his speech on a more optimistic note.
"These are very difficult moments, but we will come out ahead. Because we believe in our country and we are proud of who we are. Because our democratic principles are strong, are solid. And they are strong because they are based on the desire of millions and millions of Spaniards to coexist in peace and freedom," he said.
"That is how we have been building Spain in recent decades. And so we must continue that path, with serenity and determination. On that path, in that better Spain that we all desire, Catalonia will be there as well," Felipe said.
Members of Spain's National Police and Civil Guard tried to thwart Sunday's independence vote from going ahead by removing ballot boxes from polling stations, which led to clashes with voters and left more than 800 people injured, according to the Catalan government.
Spain's Interior Ministry said that 431 members of the security forces were injured.
In the face of the "irresponsible conduct" of the Catalan regional government, it is the duty of the "legitimate state powers to ensure the constitutional order and the normal functioning of the institutions," the monarch said in a televised address to the nation two dates after the vote in the northeastern region.
Catalan authorities, Felipe said, "have clearly and resoundingly placed themselves outside the law and democracy."
"The have tried to shatter the unity of Spain and the national sovereignty, which is the right of all Spaniards to decide democratically their life in common," the king said.
The Catalan administration "has dismissed the feelings and emotions of solidarity that have united and will unite Spaniards as a whole" and in the process have put in jeopardy "the economic and social stability of Catalonia and all of Spain," King Felipe said.
"I know very well that in Catalonia there is also much preoccupation and great dissatisfaction with the conduct of the autonomous authorities. To those who feel that way, I tell you that you are not alone, nor will you be, that you have all the support and solidarity of the rest of the Spanish people, and the absolute guarantee of our rule of law and the defense of your freedom and your rights," the monarch said.
The king ended his speech on a more optimistic note.
"These are very difficult moments, but we will come out ahead. Because we believe in our country and we are proud of who we are. Because our democratic principles are strong, are solid. And they are strong because they are based on the desire of millions and millions of Spaniards to coexist in peace and freedom," he said.
"That is how we have been building Spain in recent decades. And so we must continue that path, with serenity and determination. On that path, in that better Spain that we all desire, Catalonia will be there as well," Felipe said.
Members of Spain's National Police and Civil Guard tried to thwart Sunday's independence vote from going ahead by removing ballot boxes from polling stations, which led to clashes with voters and left more than 800 people injured, according to the Catalan government.
Spain's Interior Ministry said that 431 members of the security forces were injured.
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