- Direct. Last minute about the coronavirus crisis
- Speech. King Felipe VI in the face of the coronavirus crisis: "This virus will not defeat us, it will make us stronger as a society"
- Analysis: A Monarchy shed from skin
That June 19, 2014, in Congress and the streets of Madrid the shoulders of some collided with those of others. Kisses, greetings, hugs, screams, euphoria and zero social distance. This Friday, six years later, that crowd remains displaced by a reality of masks and social distancing.
Felipe VI, on the sixth anniversary of his coronation, faces his third crisis since gaining access to the throne: the reputation for research on the businesses of Don Juan Carlos, the independence challenge of Catalonia and the coronavirus.
The night Spain was in alarm, Felipe VI repudiated his father. He withdrew his public assignment and renounced his inheritance - a symbolic gesture - after uncovering new journalistic investigations that linked him to opaque funds and that even linked Felipe VI himself as a possible beneficiary.
An unprecedented event that turned the page turning to give a twist to the image of the Crown: contacts, meetings, closeness ... with all sectors affected and involved in the fight against the coronavirus.
Garamendi: "Institutional moderation"
But beyond the communicative staging, the figure of the monarch emerges in the back room, in the meetings and calls whose content does not completely transcend, to assume a crucial role in restoring the image of Spain, deteriorated abroad to consequence of the impact of the pandemic.
This is borne out by the people who have been in contact with the King during the pandemic, to whom they grant a decisive role in promoting reactivation and generating new confidence in the international market.
"The role of the King during the pandemic has been fundamental, since having a stable institution that transcends politics as the Spanish Monarchy has contributed to providing moderation and institutionality at a time of such difficulty," said Antonio Garamendi , president of the CEOE.
"With a view to reconstruction, no one doubts that Spain has before it the challenge of explaining beyond our borders that the country is ready to resume activity and receive tourists from investments. For this, the magnificent role of Don Felipe VI as A sure ambassador will serve to accelerate and consolidate that process, "adds Garamendi.
"His figure is important to generate unity in the face of a common effort where public and private forces and efforts must be joined," says Pablo López Gil , general director of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum , a strategic public-private alliance of the main Spanish companies.
López Gil: "Ambassador of the image of Spain"
"The figure of the King is important inwardly, but also abroad. It is important at this time to regain confidence internationally to attract tourism, investments, talent ... His figure has always been fundamental from an institutional and political perspective, and also from the economic and business point of view. He is one of the main ambassadors of the image of Spain and of its economic and business interests ", explains López Gil.
This work of reversing a deteriorated foreign projection of the country is key in the short term. Especially when Spain returns to the new normal next week and opens borders on Sunday. "He is a great defender of the Spain brand throughout the world. His messages have been clear and effective, an extremely useful collaboration", highlights Carlos Garrido , President of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies ( CEAV ).
"Any initiative will always have the backing, support and affection of the Crown, firmly committed and dedicated to the projection of Spain abroad and to the defense of the general interests," said Felipe VI this Thursday at the presentation of the Spain campaign for Sure . More forceful was a few days ago when he made a clear appeal to international tourism: "Spain is a safe and quality tourist destination."
This work of international projection of Spain, to stave off the damage caused by the impact of the tragedy, has gone through all the activity of Felipe VI during the pandemic. He has starred in more than 19 audiences, 84 videoconferences, 141 phone calls ... to know first-hand the impact and work of all sectors: health, economic, social.
Contacts abroad
And, above all, he has dialogued with 12 heads of state from America, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean Area - the president of the United States; the emperor of Japan; the Queen of England and Prince Charles; the king of Morocco; the King of Jordan; and the presidents of the republics of Portugal, Germany, Austria, Israel, Tunisia and Georgia-.
To these calls are also added the contacts with the top leaders of multinational organizations: António Guterres , Secretary General of the United Nations; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , Director-General of the World Health Organization; Rebeca Greenspan , Ibero-American Secretary General; and Zurab Pololikhasvili , Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization.
"His Majesty has demonstrated his inescapable commitment to the defense of our institutions, stability and the economic and social development of Spain, especially in the most difficult moments. His role will be key to forging the necessary consensus to unite and mobilize the Spanish in a shared and exciting project of economic and social recovery ", explains the president of the Businessmen's Circle , John de Zulueta .
Those who have talked with the King highlight the closeness shown and the knowledge of the corresponding matter, "even of specific problems in subsectors". "In the midst of this health crisis, the King called us, worried about the sheep sector and listened to us," says José Antonio Asensio , manager of the Sheep Promotion Consortium .
"Their role during this global crisis has been, along with the professionalism of our ranchers and the consolidation of their cooperatives, one of the keys in the evolution of sheep meat exports."
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