Solemn Flag Raising Ceremony on the occasion of the XLIV Anniversary of the constitution of the Constitutional Court.

This morning, the Jardines del Descubrimiento gardens in Madrid's Plaza de Colón hosted the Solemn Raising of the Flag on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the constitution of the Constitutional Court. The ceremony was presided over by the President of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido Tourón, accompanied by the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy (AJEMA), Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez. Among those present were several members of the Constitutional Court, as well as representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Guard.

 

The Honours Unit, commanded by a captain of the Reserve and Security Group No. 1 of the Guardia Civil, was composed of: Gastadors Squadron, Music Unit and a Mixed Company formed by a section of the Army, a section of the Navy, a section of the Air and Space Army and a section of the Civil Guard.

 

The Army section belongs to the Infantry Regiment 'Inmemorial del Rey' nº1; the Navy section to the Marine Infantry Group of Madrid; the Air and Space Army section to the Honours Squadron of the Air Force Security Group and the Civil Guard section to the Reserve and Security Group nº1.

 

The hoisting team was made up of personnel from the three armies and the Guardia Civil.

 

The sequence of events was as follows:

The flag-raising ceremony in the Plaza de Colón is held on a regular monthly basis. It is also held on four occasions a year on an 'extraordinary basis' and is called a "solemn hoisting". The first of these four solemn hoisting ceremonies is on 15 May, on the occasion of the feast of San Isidro, and is attended by the Mayor of Madrid. The second is on 19 June, the anniversary of the proclamation of HM the King, and is co-chaired by the President of the Supreme Court and the President of the General Council of the Judiciary. The third is on 12 July, coinciding with the anniversary of the date on which the Constitutional Court came into operation, and is presided over by the president of the Constitutional Court. The last of the year is held on 6 December, the day of the Spanish Constitution, and is co-chaired by the presidents of the Congress and the Senate.

 

The flag is 300 square metres (21 x 14) and weighs 35 kilos. It was raised for the first time in 2001, when the previous 21-metre mast was replaced by the current 50-metre mast. This mast has a rotating head to turn in the same direction as the wind, thus preventing the flag from wrapping around the mast, which weighs almost 20 tonnes and is anchored on a footing resting on four pillars in the Colón underground car park.