The Diplomat. Madrid
The difficulties in forming a new Spanish Government following the results of the general elections on 20 December could affect the travel arrangements of King Felipe and Queen Letizia that the Royal Household have planned for 2016.
In Zarzuela, according to what The Diplomat was told, there is consideration of what could easily happen, if on the date programmed for the King and Queen’s State Visit to Saudi Arabia –from 16 to 18 February- the process of forming a new Government were still under way.
The only date fixed in the calendar is 13 January, for the Constitution of Parliament. As from this moment there will be a round of consultations by the King with the political parties with parliamentary representation and the potential situation of Mariano Rajoy being commissioned to endeavour to form a government. Then the investiture would have to be convoked and, almost certainly, a second round of voting 48 hours after this date, which would probably be at the end of January.
The problem could arise if Rajoy did not achieve his objective and the King charged Pedro Sánchez with the formation of the government, as the PSOE was the second party with the most votes. This would take time, entering into February, and a time of uncertainty which could lead to the King changing his plans to travel to Saudi Arabia. However, at this point in time, the Royal Household has no plans to change the monarch’s dairy in respect of travel abroad.
