The Diplomat
Following the dismissal of Carlos Bastarreche as ambassador in London, published yesterday in the Official State Gazette, there are now two Spanish Embassies without an ambassador, although each of them is headed by a Chargé d’Affaires.
The other Embassy is that of India, which has been vacant since last October 27th, when the incumbent, José Ramón Barañano, ceased to hold the post, as he reached 70 years of age, the retirement age.
Diplomatic circles have been surprised that more than three months after Barañano’s departure, the appointment of a new ambassador for a country as important as India has not yet taken place.
One of the names that has been most talked about to occupy this post is that of Antonio Pérez-Hernández, who in mid-December left his post as director of Casa América, although there are also other aspirants to the Embassy.
As for Bastarreche, who reached retirement age on November 27, he has remained, despite this, at the head of the diplomatic representation, by decision of the Government, which argued that it was not appropriate to change him at a time when the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union was about to take place.
Apparently, Bastarreche agreed to continue as ambassador for a couple of months more and after that period he asked to be relieved.
Although the Executive assured that he would remain in the post until another ambassador had been appointed, the reality is that this has not happened and, for some time, the Minister Counselor, José María Fernández López de Turiso, will be in charge of the Embassy as Chargé d’Affaires.
For the time being, there is no evidence that the Executive has already requested the British authorities the approval for Bastarreche’s replacement. The circles consulted suggest that it could be a woman -who would become the first female ambassador in London- and that she would not belong to the Diplomatic Career.
In any case, the appointment could still take a few weeks to take place, at a time when Spain, after the Brexit, is recomposing its relations with the United Kingdom, where there are many Spanish economic interests and which is one of the main emitters of tourists to our country.
