Madrid - (AFP) - Spain's King Felipe VI called for "unity" and "responsibility" on Saturday, as the country faces an unprecedented institutional crisis over a clash between the leftist government and the conservative opposition.

In his traditional Christmas speech, Felipe VI considered that "division makes democracies more fragile. Union, on the contrary, strengthens them. In Spain, we know this from our own experience," warning of the weakness of institutions.

"I believe that in these times we should all show responsibility and think constructively about the consequences of ignoring these risks for our union, our coexistence and our institutions," he added.

And the king continued in this televised speech, "nearly 45 years have passed since the adoption of the constitution" that established democracy in Spain in 1978, and "of course many things have changed and will continue to change."

He stressed that "the spirit that was born from him, and his principles and foundations, which are the product of everyone, cannot be weakened and should not fall into oblivion."

This speech comes at a time when heated discussions have recently intensified between the government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the Popular Party, the most prominent right-wing party, due to a deep disagreement over judicial reform.

This amendment, which aims to renew four judges of the Constitutional Court, was voted on by deputies last week after the ruling coalition parties added it to the text of a law related to amending the Penal Code.

But it had to be withdrawn from the final text submitted Thursday to senators after a veto by the Constitutional Court to which the People's Party referred the case.

This objection angered the left, which accused the court of "isolating institutions" and preventing parliament from approving "legislation."

This crisis is the culmination of four years of challenge between the government and the opposition over the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary, which is responsible for appointing the majority of the judges of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.

The two parties exchange accusations of seeking to tighten the grip on the judicial institution by imposing or keeping judges from their political current in it, one year before the legislative elections scheduled for the end of 2023.