A continuación, se reproduce el discurso (en inglés) pronunciado por el Embajador, D. Vicente Canelles, en el acto de celebración por el 40 aniversario de la Constitución española:
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION
On 6 December we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. It is not only the regulation that unites all Spanish citizens, ratified in a referendum of all Spaniards with a majority of over a 90%, but also the milestone that marks the beginning of Spain’s journey as an open, modern and inclusive country.
Over the last four decades, Spain has established itself as a democratic State under the Rule of Law; as a country fully committed to the European project, having joined the European Union in 1986; as a welfare State with universal healthcare and education systems, and as a world leader in equality, human rights and solidarity.
Asserting that Spain is a democratic welfare State under the Rule of Law, as set forth in the first article of the Magna Carta, may seem obvious, almost a cliché. However, it is also an acknowledgement that fills us with pride, especially since it has been a work of consensus among us all. Spanish society has built this reality, not without complications and difficulties, and with a great deal of effort. But together we succeeded.
We can not but be thankful to the men and women who, at the time the Constitution was drafted and approved, were wise enough to put aside their rivalries, to give up some of their long standing expectations: the long fight against the dictatorship for some, the recollection of the atrocities of the civil war for all, and were capable of, willingly, work together and agree on a set of rules that would be the basis over which to build a new nation, a new order under the Rule of Law. It is true that behind all their efforts there was the clear impulse of H.M. King Juan Carlos and that the Spanish people demanded, claimed for, an end to what I often call the situation of “Spanish exceptionality”. But all did and, even today, we thank that effort of unity and look at them with gratitude and pride.
There are many reasons to be proud. Today, Spain is one of the countries with the highest levels of democratic quality in the world. Spain has also established itself as one of the countries with greatest territorial decentralisation and regional self-governance. We have the privilege of being home to several different cultures and co-official languages that reflect the diversity and plurality that characterise their idiosyncrasy and their own philosophy and culture.
Spain’s democratic nature is intrinsically linked to European principles and values. For this reason, it comes as no surprise that Spain, a country fully committed to the European project after joining the European Union in 1986, is among the most pro-European countries. In fact, an overwhelming percentage of Spanish citizens consider that being a member of the European Union has benefited Spain and wish to remain in the EU.
Spain is a country where each person matters and where nobody is left behind; a welfare state with universal healthcare and education systems. Over the last forty years we have built the world’s third most efficient healthcare system, a universal care model that includes foreign residents, cross-border workers, residing pensioners of other nationalities and even irregular immigrants.
Spain has consolidated its position as a global leader in human rights. For example, since 2004, Spain passed the Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender-based Violence and three years later the Law on Effective Equality between Men and Women. Both texts include a wide range of preventive, social, health and assistance measures and constitute a spearhead to achieving real equality between women and men. This commitment has enabled Spain to become the world’s fifth country in terms of social inclusion, justice and security for women, according to UN Women.
In the field of equality, it is also worth mentioning that Spain is a leader in the recognition and protection of the rights of the LGTBI community, an area in which Spain has also been a pioneer. After all, in July 2005 Spain became just the third country in the world to recognise same-sex marriages.
All this progress has not only been driven by the powers of the State. It has received the impulse of the Spanish society as a whole, setting the rhythm of a journey in which its spirit of solidarity has stood out. This can also be seen in the response to natural disasters and to humanitarian crises, with the majority of Spaniards in favour of the country receiving refugees. This generosity of the Spanish people is also reflected in everyday life, as shown by the fact that Spain is the global leader in organ donation and transplants and has been so for 26 consecutive years.
Finally, it is worth noting the open nature of our country to the world, reflected in its foreign policy over the last forty years. Through a broader international projection after the approval of the Constitution, Spain has gained in terms of global vision and presence, in reputation and credibility. Spain’s presence as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on four occasions since the approval of the Constitution –the last during the 2015-2016 biennium– is evidence of this commitment.
Additionally, over the course of these forty years of history, international society has dramatically changed. For this reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has updated the way in which it carries out foreign policy, complementing traditional diplomacy with numerous digital and public diplomacy initiatives.
The last forty years have seen Spain assume an international role infinitely more important than that which it had back in 1978. After all, our foreign policy has been applied and developed in the practice of the values, principles and provisions established in the constitutional text, as reflected in our presence and reputation abroad, in the internationalisation of the Spanish economy and in Spain’s credibility as a global player.
Spain has, of course, had to overcome difficult times and much remains to be done, but we are today a modern, advanced, European, plural and open country. This is largely due to the Spanish Constitution, understood not only as a regulation –although that is essential– but as the expression of the values, principles and commitments of a society that in the last forty years has built the most stable and thriving period of our history.
Allow me to end with a sentence from the speech of King Felipe last Thursday in the solemn ceremony commemorating the anniversary in the Spanish Parliament: “The Constitution sat the fundamental basis of the social and democratic Spain based on the Rule of Law, and it did so in the spirit of reconciliation, integration and understanding”.