Spain
is left without an ambassador in
London
a month after the consummation of
Brexit
and at a key moment in bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Council of Ministers confirmed the dismissal of diplomat
Carlos Bastarreche,
who retired in November when he turned 70 but agreed to continue temporarily in office until the appointment of his replacement.
Although the
Government
initially communicated that Bastarreche would continue in his post until the replacement took place, the truth is that at the time of his departure it is still unknown who will take his place.
The Minister Counselor of the Spanish Embassy in London,
José María Fernández López de Turiso, a
philologist by training, will be provisionally at the head of the diplomatic delegation.
The government's
lack of foresight
has been in evidence during this peculiar period of "transition".
Almost three months after
Ambassador Bastarreche reached the maximum age to hold office, his position remains up in the air.
In clear contrast, the British Government usually appoints its ambassador to Spain six months before the replacement takes place, to give him time to carry out the transfer and take the measure to the position.
The delay in the appointment of the new ambassador in London
- one of the most greedy positions in the diplomatic career -
may be due to the express desire of the Government to give greater relevance to the position, after the United Kingdom's departure from the EU and in light of the need to strengthen bilateral relations.
Diplomatic sources confirm that up until now, women's names have been considered as possible successors.
Bastarreche could be relieved by what could be the first Spanish ambassador in London, with the Secretary of State for International Cooperation
Ángeles Moreno
or the Secretary of State for Commerce
Xiana Méndez
among the candidates.
The Minister of
Foreign Affairs Arancha González Laya is
also considering other names such as the current ambassador to
Malta, Consuelo Femenía,
or the Secretary of State for Sports
Irene Lozano.
González Laya has previously been criticized for taking too long to decide appointments.
In the case of London, the delay in the departure of Carlos Bastarreche (Madrid, 1950) was initially justified by the end of the Brexit transition period in December 2020. Bastarreche had arrived at the position in 2017, with the experience acquired as ambassador Permanent Representative of Spain to the
European Union
until 2010 and as ambassador to
France
until 2014.
He replaced
Federico Trillo
after a particularly turbulent period at the embassy.
Bastarreche maintained a lower political profile, held his position with the change of government and was focused almost exclusively on Brexit.
The successive delays since November have created a certain tension in the embassy in London, where it is still unknown how long it will take to name the successor or successor.
After his name was made public in the BOE, the transfer occurs rarely before a month, so the diplomatic headquarters in London can remain without an ambassador
at least until March.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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