Madrid -  Spain's King Juan Carlos on Wednesday called for unity against terrorism when opening a new legislature in a solemn parliamentary ceremony after the March 9 elections.

The monarch urged parliament to work with "tenacity" towards a consensus on "policies of state," such as the fight against the militant Basque separatist group ETA and the deepening economic downturn.

Accompanied by Queen Sofia and his children, the king presided over the ceremony in the presence of Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his government, MPs and senators.

Juan Carlos first listened to the national anthem, inspected troops and greeted the presidents of the lower and upper house.

Jose Bono, president of the lower house, stressed the use of debate in politics in his speech, saying politics should not be a battle for power.

Zapatero took his second consecutive victory in the elections over a month ago. He then appointed Spain's first female-dominated cabinet, with nine female and eight male ministers.

The legislature was Spain's 9th since the first free elections in 1977 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. (dpa)