The uncertainty of the war opens the La Toja Forum

The

, which was born in 2018 as a place for debate on the crisis of representative democracy and the liberal order, has been acclimatizing to the great and dramatic events of the last four years in the world.

First a pandemic.

Now a war.

And as a painful consequence, chained economic and social crises, which, in turn, cause spasms in Spanish and European politics.

The calamity of war was the sole theme of the first day, with a headline left by the King.

"Spain is with Ukraine," said Felipe VI.

The King has inaugurated the four editions of the Galician Island Forum, already consolidated as a reference for the great debates of our time.

For the prestige of those who participate in the debate tables, and also for the institutional support of former presidents Felipe González and Mariano Rajoy, who this Friday will once again share a table, talk, reflection and criteria on the country's political progress.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who in the first three editions acted as host of the Forum as president of the

, participates on this occasion as leader of the PP.

Alfonso Rueda has replaced him as host.

The businessman

, promoter of the annual event, stressed that polarization and the advance of autocratic parties are issues that need to be discussed in this type of forum.

The first day consisted of a tribute to the Ukrainian people, who received the annual prize of the Forum.

He was received by the Ukrainian ambassador with "emotion".

In his speech, the King showed his "deepest admiration" for the citizens of Ukraine, noting that the country's struggle for its sovereignty and dignity "is the struggle for a free and open society."

"Yours, and that of all of us who believe in the value of freedom and democracy."

Felipe VI reiterated an idea that he includes in many of his speeches.

In moments as serious as these, "is when we must do the most to defend freedom and the values ​​that democracy has allowed us. We are all part of it."

Neither the King nor the participants in the first session, the Spanish Foreign Minister, his Ukrainian counterpart and the high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, spared words of seriousness, concern and uncertainty about the progress of the war, the consequences and the future of "a devastated country", in the words of the president of the Forum, former minister

.

In the conversations, it became clear that the evolution of the war and the decisions that Putin may take are unpredictable, even for the greatest experts and people with the most stripes in international diplomacy.

The Spanish and Ukrainian foreign ministers - the latter on screen from a distance - had a cordial chat.

asked for more weapons.

"When we win, it will also be your victory."

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