3
P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
Laureates. Excerpts
Above all else, the transition was, in my opinion, a political and social process of acknowledgement
and understanding of the “distinct”, the “different”, the “other Spaniard” who does not think like
me, who does not share the same religious beliefs, who was not born in my region, who is not
motivated by the political ideals that driveme and yet who is my complement rather thanmy enemy,
the person who completes my identify as a citizen and as a Spaniard, and the person with whom I
have to coexist, for only within this coexistence can we both defend our ideals, practise our beliefs
and fulfil our ideas. I do not believe that anybody in democratic politics possesses the absolute
truth. Truth always implies an arduous quest that we must pursue together based upon an
agreement to coexist and work together. Not only our distant past but also the present and the
future steer us of necessity towards this free, peaceful coexistence. This consensus is founded upon
shared economic, social and political realities that in my opinion are unquestionable.
As Spaniards, we all had to reach an essential agreement, a fundamental pact for consensus
that must be renewed daily, without reneging on our own ideas and beliefs. I believe we did so
under the auspices of the Crown. I further believe that we should continue to do so under the
Constitution and its implementation and around the Monarchy and this shared reality called
Spain. Such an agreement should logically reflect the need we all have to face a future that is of
concern to us all together and in solidarity, as it should also perhaps reflect the energy, hope and
optimism with which to face that future.
I believe that the cornerstone upon which democracy was built during our transition consisted
precisely of the establishment in politics and in general life of a civil consensus. This had to be
achieved from the position of pluralism that existed amongst us, from a position of tolerance and
freedom.
(…)
I believe that in the future Spain will manage to overcome whatever difficulties it might face
and will make a decisive contribution to consensus amongst nations. To do so, I believe that as
Spaniards we need only do one thing: nurture the fine seed of consensus daily wherever we might
find it.
Adolfo Suárez González
—
Prince of Asturias Award
for Concord
1996
Adolfo Suárez was President of the
Government of Spain from 1976 to
1981. He was the first president of the
newly founded democracy.
—
Excerpt from the speech given on
the occasion of receiving the Prince
of Asturias Award for Concord on
8/11/1996.
