Solemn Flag Hoisting on Constitution's XLVI Anniversary

• The Chief of Defense together with the presidents of the Congress and the Senate in the event held, on this occasion, at the Congress

The tribute to the Constitution on the occasion of its XLVI anniversary organized by the Defense Staff consisted of a solemn flag raising at the Congress, at the 'Carrera de San Jeronimo'.

The Chief of Defence (JEMAD), Admiral Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, together with the President of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol Socias, and the President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán Ojeda, co-chaired the hoisting of the flag. They have also attended, among other civilian and military authorities, a deputies commission, a senators commission, the Chief Commissioner of the Congress, the Chief of the Army, the Chief of the Navy, the Chief of the Air and Space Force and the Director General of the 'Guardia Civil'.

With this act, the Armed Forces pay tribute and express their recognition to the Constitution. On this occasion, the Navy raised the flag.

The Honor Guard has made up by:

•  ‘Escuadra de Gastadores’ and music section of the Agrupación de Marine Corps of Madrid.
•  Joint Company, consisting of an Army Platoon, a Navy Platoon, an Air and Space Force Platoon and a Civil Guard Platoon.

The sequence of events was as follows:

•   Arrival of the 'JEMAD' at the 'Carrera de San Jerónimo'. He was received by Admiral Juan María Ibáñez Martín, Head of General Services and Technical Assistance of the Navy, 'AJESAT'.
•  Captain of the Mixed Company presents honours to the JEMAD
• Arrival of the President of Congress and the President of the Senate. They were received by the JEMAD.
•  They were honoured and conducted a Force inspection.
• Raising of the National Flag
•  Military parade

At the end of the parade, the President of Congress, the President of the Senate and the JEMAD welcomed the civilian and military authorities.

The flag-raising ceremony at the 'Plaza de Colón' is held on a regular monthly basis. It is also held four times a year on an extraordinary occasion, known as a ‘solemn hoisting’. The first of these four solemn hoisting ceremonies is on 15 May, on the San Isidro festivity. The second is on 19 June, the anniversary of the proclamation of HM the King, and is presided over by the President of the General Council of the Judiciary. The third is on 12 July, on the anniversary of the date on which the Constitutional Court comes into operation, and is presided over by the President of the Constitutional Court.

The solemn hoisting of the flag on 6 December, the day of the Spanish Constitution, is the last of the year and is co-chaired by the Presidents of the Congress and the Senate. It alternates between the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.