The Diplomat in Spain

The Diplomat. 14/03/2017

The current Spanish Ambassador in Paris, Ramón de Miguel, will turn 70 years old on 3 May, when he is supposed to retire. This fact has aroused all types of rumours in the last weeks regarding his replacement in a diplomatic representation key to Spain, especially in a very delicate moment for the future of the European Union.

One of the most mentioned names was that of Ana Palacio, the former Foreign Minister, being even affirmed that she had asked for the position to the current head of the Department, Alfonso Dastis, and even to the president of the Government, Mariano Rajoy.

The rumours had been fuelled by the fact that Dastis worked with Palacio as secretary general for the EU when she was minister and that both shared work in the European Convention. Besides, she is considered to have good relations with France, since she was vice-president of the French public group of nuclear technology Areva for some years. However, reliable sources of the Foreign Ministry consulted by The Diplomat have ruled out this possibility.

Another groundless rumour was pointing, for some time, at the current deputy secretary, Cristóbal González-Aller, to replace De Miguel. Finally, another option would be for De Miguel to continue, despite his retirement, for some more months, until a new Government is formed in France, after an uncertain presidential election, whose second round will be on 7 May, almost coinciding with the moment in which the ambassador would have to leave his position.

The fact that the ‘number two’ of the Embassy will also change in the coming months has filled the corridors of the Ministry with comments about this possibility, but the same sources consulted think that it will not become a reality and bet on the appointment of a new ambassador.