MADRID – The King of Spain said Thursday the fight against terrorism is the “priority for all democratic forces” over the next four years.

King Juan Carlos was addressing the Spanish Council of State as the new legislature  opened.

He started his speech by offering a “profound homage” to the victims of the 11 March massacres in Madrid.

The King was accompanied by Queen Sofia, Crown Prince Felipe and the president of the lower house in Spain’s parliament.

The terrorist atrocity, in which ten bombs exploded in four trains in the rush-hour, left 192 people dead and more than 1,500 injured.

So far, 36 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, most of them Moroccans.

The King said in his speech that proposed reforms of the Spanish constitution planned by the new Socialist government should be applied with consensus.

The new administration has pledged to reform the constitution to give some more power to the regions.

The King added that the constitution recognised and protected the plurality of Spanish society.

“Our Spain is a place for all,” he added.

Earlier,  José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain’s new premier, asked for “dialogue and consensus” in tackling his planned reforms of the country’s constitution.

Zapatero asked that the Council of State to motivate “debate, dialogue and participation” over the reforms.

He added that this should involved the “majority of Spanish society and almost all of the political powers”.

Francisco Rubio Llorente was announced as the new president of the Council of State and replaced his predecessor Manuel Romay Beccaría.
 

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news