For the people’s right to choose their own state model Republic or monarchy in Spain?
Support and solidarity with the demand of “La Izquierda Plural” (The Plural Left) on exercising the Spanish people’s right to choose the state model, monarchy or Republic, through a referendum
The Party of the European Left sees the sequence of political events that are taking place after and a consequence of the latest European elections in Spain, more concretely in the Kingdom of Spain. On June 3rd the king Juan Carlos I. suddenly announced his abdication, in favour of the dynastic succession by the actual Prince Felipe de Borbon who will postulate himself as Felipe VI.
Beyond the official arguments, the truth is that we are facing a complicated scenario in which – looking at the results – the bipartisanship of the Popular Party and the socialists lost. Reaching a combined 50% in the last years’ votes had permitted them previously to exercise a comfortable and implacable majority for the big agreements and complicities – including constitutional charges.
At the same time, the complicated situation of Catalonia and especially the cases of legal imputation of the royal family for corruption and tax offences had precipitated the king´s decision.
Finally, it is about assuring and sealing the continuity of the monarch regime with the maximum urgency for their dynastic interest and the interest of their allies. Through this process and while pushing legal parliamentarian limits it interferes with the most elemental democratic and participative conduct of the citizens, which they prefer to view as subjects.
In this context, IU/PCE/EUiA – together with other political and social forces – reclaims the exercise of a popular and social referendum to choose between the two possibilities: monarchy or republic.
The EL understands, bearing in mind the historical memory, elemental democracy and extensive arguments on social and political model, that the republican claim, including its federal expression, is fair, legitimate and necessary.
In view of all this we express our support and solidarity with the campaign that – from the “Izquierda Plural”, the republican assembly and others – demands this Referendum.
EL-Executive Board
Brussels, 07th of June 2014
