There is a right royal difference between the UK's head of state, Elizabeth II, and her Spanish counterpart, king Felipe VI. The contrasts between the two are seen in their institutional roles, their popularity and, in particular, in their relationship to politics. This, at least, is how British Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell sums it up, underscoring that the basic difference between the British monarch and the Spanish one has been shown with respect to the situation in Catalonia. In contrast to the belligerent positioning of Felipe de Borbón, Rosindell says that “our queen" would never get involved in "any political question."
Interviewed by Catalan public television's FAQS programme on Saturday night, Rosindell asserted that he didn't want to "comment on the case of your king” - with regard to Felipe VI - but he did want to make it very clear that in the United Kingdom, “our queen would have accepted and respected the result of any referendum”, as occurred in Scotland. And this marks a basic difference with Felipe VI, who took a stand of total opposition to the Catalan referendum and in his speech of 3rd October washed his hands of millions of Catalans who were in favour of independence.
"Our queen would never enter in any political question. As a matter of fact, any result of the referendum" had accepted" @AndrewRosindell (Conservative Party deputy in the British parliament) in #FAQSpassihobéTV3 https://t.co/wGx6It0QhU pic.twitter.com/FawnrbeyhC
— Frequent questions (@FAQSTV3) 2 of junio of 2018
(Interview audio is dubbed in Catalan)
As well, the MP had some strong words for the performance of the Popular Party during the celebration of the independence referendum on 1st October, since it was repressed “with violence”.
"Al PP should make it|him|her shame to see how" @AndrewRosindell (Conservative Party deputy in the British parliament) "acted on the 1 of October" in #FAQSpassihobéTV3 https://t.co/wGx6It0QhU pic.twitter.com/q4NgYjMRg6
— Frequent questions (@FAQSTV3) 2 of junio of 2018
(Interview audio is dubbed in Catalan)
“The Popular Party must be ashamed when it sees what it allowed to take place in Catalonia”, said Rosindell, adding that beyond anyone's personal opinion on the question of independence for Catalonia or Scotland, it is “undoubtedly” the people themselves who need to choose and the best way to do this is through a referendum”. “In Scotland it was allowed and we would have respected any result, and here it wasn't allowed or respected and violence was used”, he added.