King Felipe VI of Spain on Friday warned against "walls" and divisions that "impoverish and isolate" as an independence drive in the northeast region of Catalonia gets into higher gear.
"When divisions are promoted, something very deep breaks within us, in our very being, in our hearts. Let nobody use emotions to build walls," he said during a televised ceremony for the country's Princess of Asturias awards.
The monarch did not mention Catalonia by name, but gave a clear indication of his fears that the country could split.
"Divisions never make a people great, they only impoverish and isolate it. Let us avoid social fractures which cause so much harm," he said.
His comments came just three days before a new regional parliament is due to be formed in Catalonia following elections last month in which pro-independence parties won a majority of 72 seats in the 135-seat Catalan regional assembly.
During the campaign the head of the Catalan government, Artur Mas, vowed to set Catalonia on a path toward independence within 18 months if he gets backing from the new parliament.
But the pro-independence camp fell short of winning a majority of votes, capturing 48 percent of all ballots, handing its adversaries in the central government in Madrid a strong argument to resist the push for independence.
Conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argues the Spanish constitution does not allow any region to break away and he has vowed to ensure that the law is respected.
"In a democratic society like ours, the defence of legality and constitutional principles is the guarantee of the rights and freedoms of all citizens," he said.
"Let's continue to build Spain convinced and very conscious that a European nation with millennial roots and a universal vocation like ours, will remain united towards a future of greater cooperation and progress," he added.
Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people which accounts for a fifth of Spain's economic output, has its own language, which was suppressed during the 1939-75 dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
The region's independence drive has intensified over the recent years of economic crisis. Catalans complain about how much of their tax money is redistributed to the rest of Spain.
King Felipe VI of Spain on Friday warned against “walls” and divisions that “impoverish and isolate” as an independence drive in the northeast region of Catalonia gets into higher gear.
“When divisions are promoted, something very deep breaks within us, in our very being, in our hearts. Let nobody use emotions to build walls,” he said during a televised ceremony for the country’s Princess of Asturias awards.
The monarch did not mention Catalonia by name, but gave a clear indication of his fears that the country could split.
“Divisions never make a people great, they only impoverish and isolate it. Let us avoid social fractures which cause so much harm,” he said.
His comments came just three days before a new regional parliament is due to be formed in Catalonia following elections last month in which pro-independence parties won a majority of 72 seats in the 135-seat Catalan regional assembly.
During the campaign the head of the Catalan government, Artur Mas, vowed to set Catalonia on a path toward independence within 18 months if he gets backing from the new parliament.
But the pro-independence camp fell short of winning a majority of votes, capturing 48 percent of all ballots, handing its adversaries in the central government in Madrid a strong argument to resist the push for independence.
Conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argues the Spanish constitution does not allow any region to break away and he has vowed to ensure that the law is respected.
“In a democratic society like ours, the defence of legality and constitutional principles is the guarantee of the rights and freedoms of all citizens,” he said.
“Let’s continue to build Spain convinced and very conscious that a European nation with millennial roots and a universal vocation like ours, will remain united towards a future of greater cooperation and progress,” he added.
Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economic output, has its own language, which was suppressed during the 1939-75 dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
The region’s independence drive has intensified over the recent years of economic crisis. Catalans complain about how much of their tax money is redistributed to the rest of Spain.
