Spain: the meeting scheduled between the Pope and the Minister of Labor criticized

Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz, January 14, 2020 in Madrid.

© Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

This Saturday, December 11 at the end of the morning, Pope Francis receives at the Vatican Yolanda Díaz, Spanish Minister of Labor of the left and second vice-president of the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez.

It is unusual for the Pope to receive a vice-president, instead of a president and a head of state.

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With our correspondent in Madrid,

The meeting between Pope Francis and Yolanda Díaz was prepared in the greatest secrecy.

According to

, it would have been made possible thanks to the intervention of the former mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena.

The themes will be inequalities, precariousness, human rights.

But, beyond that, this interview is very disturbing here.

"

A meeting at the communist summit 

" for the PP

In the first place, the head of the socialist government Pedro Sanchez.

Its Minister of Labor is more and more a leading rival, because the polls catapult it as one of the favorites of the next legislative elections in 2023.

It also disturbs the right-wing opposition.

The Popular Party of Madrid denounced "

" in reference to the fact that the vice-president comes from the Communist Party and that the Pope is perceived by the local right as a man of the left.

Finally, and this is not the least element, this meeting at the Vatican embarrasses the Spanish episcopate, very conservative, much closer to Benedict XVI than to Pope Francis.

On the other hand, within the radical left, we are extremely happy that their protege is received in such a high place.

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• Spain

• Pope Francis

• Vatican