King Felipe with Patxi López, Congress’ president last Monday at Zarzuela Palace./ Photo: Casa de S.M. el Rey
The Diplomat. 27/01/2016
The Spanish Government informed the Saudi Arabian authorities several days ago, via the usual diplomatic channels, that the King and Queen cannot, at the present time, carry out the state visit arranged for 16-18 February. The postponement is a result of the political crisis currently being experienced by Spain.
According to what The Diplomat, was told, ever since the results of the general election of 20 December 2015 were known, it was feared by both the Royal Household and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the political calendar would prevent the visit from taking place. Although this had not been officially announced, a few days prior to 20 December, the Saudi Ambassador to Spain, Mansour Bin Khaled Aifarhan Al-Saud, publicly revealed the date.
Now, in view of there not being any immediate prospect of forming a new government and because the presence of the Monarch is necessary for consultations with the various parties and an eventual investiture of a candidate, it was decided to inform Saudi Arabia of the desire to postpone the visit until the political panorama is clearer.
In addition, the recent execution of 47 people, including a Shiite cleric, has tipped the scales in favour of the postponement, to await more tranquil times, as Spain wishes to continue to maintain good relations with a country in which it has significant economic interests.
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The visit, arranged for 16 to 18 February, is being postponed because of the political situation in Spain
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Should it be prolonged further, the situation of uncertainty could affect the State Visit to the United Kingdom, programmed for 8-10 March and which, in this case, was announced by both countries. The PSOE asked the Government to postpone the visit on the understanding, in view of its importance, it should not be carried out with an acting government or one that had only just taken over.
Another visit that also cannot be definitively arranged is one that the King and Queen wish to make to Japan and South Korea and which is tentatively being voiced as taking place around the middle of April.
Similarly, two high level visits to Spain continue without definite dates, again because of the unpredictable political scene. One by the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, and the other by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which it is hoped to arrange to coincide with the 30 and 60 years anniversary, respectively, of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and these countries.
