The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, yesterday avoided commenting on the controversy created by Unidas Podemos and pro-independence groups by criticising the King for not standing up for the sword of Simón Bolivar during the inauguration of Gustavo Petro as the new president of Colombia.
When asked about the PSOE government partner’s demands that Albares give explanations for what happened, the minister avoided giving a specific answer and went on to stress “the enormous cordiality” that he witnessed between the King and Gustavo Petro in the meetings they held.
He added that the Spanish and Colombian authorities agree that the “extraordinary relations” between the two countries will continue under the mandate of Gustavo Petro, working on “a common agenda”.
Meanwhile, the attacks on the monarch continued from Unidas Podemos. Its parliamentary spokesman, Jaume Asens, in statements to Radio Nacional described Felipe V as “king of the right and the extreme right” and said that his gesture “diplomatically compromises” Spain.
