Throughout my life I have experienced numerous changes in the citizenship of Spain. I was born with telephone booths, I had an adolescence in which the word "mobile" began to sound and I now live immersed in the digital age and 5G.
I have also lived, in the political arena, numerous different situations. Absolute majorities of socialists and populars, government agreements and fateful coalition governments, as was the last legislature and it seems that this is going to be the one in which we are immersed.
And changing is not bad. I consider it to be something natural and that citizenship has to suffer. But I also think that we have to guarantee some rules, and abide by some laws. In our case, our Constitution.
Because I was fortunate enough to grow up in democracy, but my parents and especially my grandparents did not. And I always say with pride that I come from the towns of Ye and Maciot, distant in kilometers but close in feeling. And my grandparents always told me how hard it was to live in a dictatorship and how fortunate I am to live in democracy.
And I thought they were "silly things" from grandparents, but as I have grown up, I have learned that they were not nonsense. Because our democracy is something that we have to take care of, and that we have it thanks to some brave democrats, of antagonistic political ideas, who put aside their differences for a common good: the unity and progress of Spain.
And from there our Constitution was born, that magna carta that advocates as superior values of its legal system freedom, justice, equality and political pluralism; as it says in its first article. And this phrase, which law students learned as if it were the Lord's Prayer, has marked, marks and will always mark our Spanish identity.
A document that should be remembered was made by those "fathers" elected in the democratic elections of 1977, and who were elected by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and public freedoms of that time, who appointed 7 personalities to whom we owe a lot: Gabriel Cisneros Laborda, Miguel Herrero Rodríguez de Miñón, José Pedro Pérez-Llorca, Gregorio Peces-Barba, Jordi Solé, Manuel Fraga and Miquel Roca
And that Constitution, which today we celebrate the anniversary of the day it was submitted to a referendum, is the writing by which we must abide. A document that seeks the consensus and equality of all, and from which we should not do without and misinterpret.
Therefore, more than ever, I am for the Constitution. Because it is what identifies us and what guarantees our freedoms. Because we must remember why the transition to democracy was made, and the reason for our magna carta.
A search for consensus and respect for democracy that seems to be at risk. That is why I listen to and read those personalities such as Felipe González and Alfonso Guerra, socialists with whom I disagree on numerous aspects, how they are concerned about the future of the country. They see how it seems that the Constitution has taken a back seat, and they see how even the separation of powers is in danger.
We are on time, I am sure. In time to remember what we are, what it cost us to be, and be clear about where we want to go. Dialogue, consensus and looking to the future passes, more than ever, through respect for the Constitution.
Let's celebrate this December 6th. Because we are a great country with an enviable Constitution. Long live democracy, and long live Spain.