The Diplomat
The acting Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, yesterday afternoon tested positive for Covid in the mandatory test for attendance at the G20 summit and, consequently, will not be able to travel to the city of New Delhi, which will host the meeting this weekend.
The head of the Spanish government “is well and will continue to work from his residence”, according to the Secretary of State for Communication (SEC).
Following Pedro Sánchez’s absence in New Delhi, Moncloa reported that the Spanish government will be represented by the first vice-president and minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, and the minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares.
“This afternoon I tested positive for covid and will not be able to travel to New Delhi to attend the G20 summit. I feel fine. Spain will be magnificently represented by the First Vice-President and Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation,” Sánchez wrote in a message posted on the social network ‘X’.
The acting president already tested positive for coronavirus at the end of September 2022 after attending the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York, a trip that he also took advantage of to hold several bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries.
At that time, Sánchez had to cancel his institutional and political agenda in person and was unable to attend, among other events, the closing ceremony of the La Toja Forum – he entered via videoconference – or his participation in the PSC Rose Festival in Gavá (Barcelona).