The Diplomat
The People’s Party (PP) asked the Government for explanations on the replacement of the head of the Office for Gibraltar of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, Pablo Ruiz-Jarabo, at a time they consider “crucial” after the pre-agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom on the Rock that will lay the foundations of the future relationship of this territory with the EU.
As advanced by Voz Pópuli and confirmed by diplomatic sources to Europa Press, Ruiz-Jarabo has left that post to become deputy director general for the United Nations, since that position had recently become vacant. Ruiz-Jarabo, who came to the post after the sudden death of the head of the Office for Gibraltar, Antonio García Ferrer, last September, will be succeeded by his so far ‘number two’, Mario Luis González Pliego, who has participated in recent negotiations and ensures continuity, emphasize from Foreign Affairs.
The PP presented yesterday a parliamentary question in the Congress in which it claims to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, to explain “what has motivated this sudden change (…) at such a crucial moment for the negotiations on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and Spain with respect to the Rock”.
Likewise, the Popular Party asks the Minister “why she was not replaced before the Brexit took place” if she did not think that Ruiz-Jarabo was the right person to lead these negotiations.
Finally, they ask the Government how it intends to “preserve and defend the interests of Spain in relation to Gibraltar when it leaves without head both the Department of Gibraltar in Madrid and our Embassy to the United Kingdom in such a transcendental moment”. On the 3rd, the Official State Gazette published the dismissal of Carlos Bastarreche as ambassador in London, without his replacement having been appointed yet.
