The Association of Diplomats regrets Albares’s “lack of transparency” in the appointment of ambassadors

Eduardo González The Association of Spanish Diplomats (ADE) has asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, for greater "transparency and predictability" in the selection and appointment of ambassadors and permanent representatives of Spain to international organizations. In a letter sent this Thursday, October 16, the president of the Board of Directors of the ADE, Alberto Virella, recalls that, in previous years and around this time, it was common for the Ministry to publish a list of the Heads of Mission positions that would become vacant during the following year so that colleagues interested in filling them could submit their candidacies. “However, the appointments made in recent years largely corresponded to Heads of Mission positions whose vacancies had not been previously announced,” the Association continues. For example, it explains, “in 2022, of the 42 appointments made, only 28 corresponded to previously announced vacancies; in 2023, of the 16 appointments made, 11 corresponded to anticipated vacancies; in 2024, of the 44 appointments, only 15 corresponded to previously announced vacancies; and in 2025, of the 33 appointments, only 18 corresponded to anticipated vacancies.” “That is, in the last four years, 63 Heads of Mission appointments have been made whose vacancies had not been previously announced, with the uncertainty and lack of transparency that this entails,” the letter continues. “We find it inappropriate that the appointment of 46% of Spanish ambassadors be made without observing a procedure for announcing vacancies and requesting applications, and we therefore ask that this figure be reduced in the future,” it added. “We are aware that, currently, and pending the approval of a Regulation for the Diplomatic Career to replace the one in force since 1955, there is, unfortunately, no regulated system for access to Heads of Mission positions,” Virella explains. “We are also aware that the power to appoint Spanish ambassadors rests with the Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” the president of the ADE acknowledges. However, the ADE believes that, in the absence of a regulation, "it would be desirable for access to Heads of Mission positions, as well as rotation periods, to be managed within a framework of transparency and predictability, as is the case in other countries and systems in our region, including the European External Action Service." "Announcing vacancies, on the one hand, would facilitate the professional and family planning of both candidates seeking access to future vacancies and ambassadors in office, who would thus be able to know in advance the end date of their mandate," it explains. "Moreover, greater transparency would allow those candidates interested in applying for positions to submit their applications for those Heads of Mission positions that best fit their professional profile and personal circumstances, as is the case with public administration positions," warns the ADE. Furthermore, the Association believes that "a regulated process would also facilitate the selection of candidates when preparing the proposal that the Minister of Foreign Affairs must submit to the Council of Ministers." "In that sense," it continues, "it would be desirable for the selection to be made among the candidates who have applied for the vacancies, following a process of analysis of their professional backgrounds and interviews." Similarly, "it would also be desirable for this process to involve a committee made up of senior officials in the Ministry, competent in the different geographical and thematic areas, in order to choose, from different perspectives, the most suitable candidate overall for the position." "Although the annual vacancy announcements for the last four years have suggested the possibility of candidates presenting their merits in interviews that assess their merit and ability, in practice these interviews are not held," laments the president of the ADE. “In our opinion, the commitment included in the calls for applications to promptly inform candidates about the status of their applications is not being met, nor do we have any information on how this process is carried out,” he warns. In the opinion of the diplomats, this selection process, “which should be collegial and participatory,” should take into account “length of service, previous performance in positions of responsibility, experience in specific areas or regions, and the ability to manage human teams.” Furthermore, “special mention” is deserved by “colleagues who have held deputy director general positions with great effort and dedication for several years, including during the Spanish Presidency of the EU, and whose merits have often been ignored when applying for Heads of Mission positions.” Merit and ability “Holding a Head of Mission position is a legitimate and natural aspiration for diplomats in their professional careers,” the ADE asserts. “Our career, like other administrative careers, must be based on the accumulation of experience and professional advancement under the principles of merit and ability,” the Association warns. “For all these reasons, and while respecting the powers of the Council of Ministers at all times, we believe it would be desirable to have a formalized pre-selection process for candidates and, above all, a predictable and transparent system in line with the rule of law and far removed from bygone eras,” the Association insists. Furthermore, it warns, “we believe that in this way the appointment processes would be aligned with the good practices promoted and practiced by the European Union.” Finally, Virella reiterates his “request for a meeting” with the minister, “as it has been pending since the inauguration of this board of directors in December 2024.” “Likewise, we would appreciate acknowledgment of receipt of this communication,” the letter concludes.

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