King Felipe VI delivers his 2017 Christmas Eve message at the royal palace in Madrid. (Photo: Angel Diaz/AFP/Getty Images)
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In his Christmas message, Felipe VI urged the people of Catalonia to choose coexistence rather than confrontation. He did not directly mention the leaders of the Catalan separatist movement. In the wake of October’s referendum in the region, the king heavily criticized those spearheading Catalonia’s independence ambition.