King Felipe VI called on Spaniards to protect “democratic coexistence” against the perils of polarisation in a Christmas message.
Corruption cases and sexual harassment scandals have dogged Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s fragile minority coalition government and plunged Spanish politics into turbulence.
The conservative opposition constantly launches invectives against the government and demands early elections, but Sánchez refuses to resign, denouncing a smear campaign against his administration and his family.
“Citizens also perceive that tension in the public debate causes weariness, disenchantment and disaffection,” Felipe said in his traditional address to the nation from Madrid’s Royal Palace.
“Extremism, radicalism and populism feed off this lack of trust, disinformation, inequalities, disenchantment with the present and doubts about how to face the future.”
Spain this year marked 50 years since the death of General Francisco Franco, which ended his brutal 36-year dictatorship and initiated a complex path towards restoring democracy.
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“Coexistence is not an everlasting legacy. It is not enough to have received it: it is a fragile construct,” Felipe warned.
“It is up to all of us to preserve confidence in our democratic coexistence,” he said, adding: “In democracy, one’s own ideas can never be dogmas; nor can those of others be threats.”
The monarch, 57, called for “dialogue” and “exemplary conduct in the performance of all public authorities”.