Spain’s new King Felipe VI said in his first Christmas Eve speech on Wednesday that seemingly endless examples of corruption across the country incensing voters must be stamped out.
He did not mention his recently indicted sister, Princess Cristina, by name, but stressed that Spanish public figures do not have a right “to profit or become rich.”
The speech watched by millions on TV is the most important national address by Spanish kings, and Felipe gave his first after his father, Juan Carlos, abdicated in June — putting his own stamp on the monarchy.
Just two days before Felipe spoke, Cristina was indicted on two counts of tax fraud that could land her in prison.
She faces up to eight years if convicted in an alleged scheme that funded a lavish lifestyle for her and her husband at their Barcelona mansion.
Felipe told Spaniards they should take heart that some Spanish luminaries accused of “irregular conduct” are being held accountable in legal proceedings riveting and outraging citizens as media publicize cases affecting many politicians, his sister and her husband.
“There must not be favored treatment for those occupying a position of public responsibility,” Felipe said. “Public office must not be a means to profit or becoming rich.”
Felipe also said Spain’s sluggish economic recovery with unemployment at 24 percent is “unacceptable,” because young Spaniards who face much-higher joblessness are becoming disillusioned with their prospects.
Aiming to reduce secessionist fervor in the northeastern region of Catalonia, Felipe said Catalans, who speak their own language and pride themselves are an important part of Spain’s social fabric.
“Millions of Spaniards have Catalonia in their hearts,” Felipe said.
The king ended his speech by wishing viewers a merry Christmas in Spanish and in Spain’s other three official languages — Basque, Catalan and Galician.
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