Spain’s monarch pays tribute to the victims of Valencia floods in his Christmas Eve speech
Associated PressMADRID — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods, and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year’s most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness” the floods caused. In early November, as Spaniards’ shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and “listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain’s immigration debate should keep in mind the country’s European partners and immigrants’ countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration.