From Europa Laica, Spanish member of the IAFT
www.laicismo.org – europalaica@europalaica.org
EUROPA LAICA CALLS FOR THE CITIZENRY TO BE CONSULTED IN ORDER TO DECIDE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS, AS OUR SECULAR PROGRAMME IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OBSOLETE MONARCHIC STATUS OF THE HEAD OF STATE
This morning, the government leader announced the abdication of the heir of Franco: Juan Carlos. He leaves his post to his son, thus failing to respect the constitutional principle of gender equality. This is yet another indicator of the obsolescence of the monarchy.
In a few days we will release a much more precise position on this important event which occurs at a time of great political and social turmoil.
Our plan for secularism opposes countless religion-based political positions where real democracy has faded, where citizen participation has been eliminated, where the res publica and rights have been restricted.
In particular our secular programme is incompatible with a regime where the head of state is an officially Catholic monarch.
Our republican, secular and enlightened sense goes beyond the state form. Of course, we want a republican state. Our programme’s goals include a deeply democratic society with secular institutions, social justice (not charity and beneficence), the sharing of economic benefits, dignity in labour, the promotion and defense of human rights and child rights with all that they imply, full liberties, secular education, the elimination of privileges granted to religions; these are our major objectives.
As advocates of the res publica and equality for all human beings, we cannot accept a form of government which would legitimize privileges and impunity enjoyed by some people. A medieval institution, the monarchy, which claims to derive from divine origins, is unacceptable for any secularist.
The board of directors of Europa Laica supports the mobilizations which today and in the immediate future will request that the citizenry decide once and for all what should have been decided in 1978, before the adoption of the Constitution. That is to say, to move towards a republican constitutional programme as a general framework for the construction of a secular state.
Madrid, 2nd June 2014.
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