That they "focus" on what is important and not on "inconsequential" gestures. That was the response of Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, to criticism of Podemos against the King. Minister Ione Belarra's party demanded explanations from the Foreign Ministry on Monday and censured Felipe VI for not standing up to the sword of Simón Bolívar in Colombia, during the inauguration ceremony of the new president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. Moncloa ignored the anger of his partners.
The King's attitude has not caused any controversy in Colombia, despite the fact that Podemos insisted on social networks that Don Felipe "has insulted" the Colombian people. In fact, the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, did not get up either when the sword passed before them. Sources from Casa Real explained yesterday that as it is not a national symbol nor is it provided for in the protocol, the heads of state have no obligation to stand up. The PSOE closed the controversy yesterday calling the concern of Podemos "inconsequential". Bolaños explained to questions from the press that it was a "totally minor" gesture and in turn avoided the response from Moncloa and the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, that he had tried to seek Podemos with this.
Meanwhile, Yolanda Díaz, second vice president, has remained on the sidelines of the controversy all the time. From her environment they explained yesterday to ABC that it is a critical initiative of Podemos. However, that does not mean that Díaz's team does not make the same reproach to the King, however, the vice president has preferred not to give that battle in public. Thus avoiding the clash with the PSOE. Podemos is the one who plays that role. In everything related to the Monarchy, they are incisive and seek to differentiate themselves a lot from the PSOE.
“Minister Bolaños has said that the rudeness of Felipe VI to Bolívar's sword has no significance. However, he was the only head of state who did not get up and was seen on all the TVs in the world. The question is whether that decision was endorsed by the Foreign Minister," the spokesman for United We Can in Congress, Pablo Echenique, wrote on Twitter. The Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, asked the Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, if the Government and President Sánchez "endorse" the gesture that they describe as "extremely serious". They looked for the tickles of Moncloa to make a trial, without success. Sources from the Department of Foreign Affairs already clarified on Monday night that they were not going to enter into what they consider an artificial controversy. And Bolaños responded by taking weight off him.
“Irrelevant details”
“These are details without excessive importance”, expressed the Minister of the Presidency from Almería, statements collected by Europa Press. "I believe that the solidity and friendship between Spain and Colombia is absolute and proof of this is the delegation that Spain sent to the inauguration of the new president headed by His Majesty the King accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs," he added. .
Article 64 of the Spanish Constitution provides that Felipe VI cannot make a personal decision to insult the Colombian people without first consulting the competent minister.
I leave it here so that the "constitutionalists" have it at hand. pic.twitter.com/OM0qgZw4Vf
– Pablo Echenique (@PabloEchenique) August 9, 2022
The Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta, considered for his part that it was “disproportionate” to ask for forgiveness as Podemos requested. But Echenique, indefatigable, continued on Twitter: "Article 64 of the Spanish Constitution states that Felipe VI cannot make a personal decision to insult the Colombian people without first consulting the competent minister." He refers to the part of the Magna Carta that states the following: "The acts of the King will be endorsed by the President of the Government and, where appropriate, by the competent Ministers."
Profile: Pedro Honrubia, Member of United We Can
A philosopher with little activity
Socialist at heart and 'Andalus' of conscience. This is how he defines himself as Pedro Honrubia (Linares, 1980), deputy in the Congress of Deputies, for Granada, of United We Can. Graduated in Philosophy, he has been linked to the 'purple' party since its birth after the 15M movement. In the 2015 general elections he did not win a seat, but his appointment as number one of Podemos in the Nasrid province in 2019 raised him to the Lower House. His iron position with Pablo Iglesias includes replacing Ana Terrón as the head of the list, declared an 'errejonista', in the midst of the internal conflicts in which Podemos was plunged. His 'Pabloist' condition led him to be the leader of the party's argumentative team for three years. Very active on social networks, he retweets the messages of fellow party members and churches, and in recent days his contempt and insults towards the Crown and Felipe VI have been constant. The truth is that the deputy's obsession with the monarchy is remarkable, but until now he had never appealed to the "guillotine."
The opposition also defended the King. The deputy spokesman for the PP in the Congress of Deputies, Jaime de Olano, said that Felipe VI “has strictly complied with the protocol” and called the criticism of Podemos “inadmissible”. From Vox, the deputy Juan Luis Steegman defended the monarch in the style of the party: "(The sword) would still be stained with Spanish blood." And Ciudadanos applauded not getting up "for not bowing to indigenist whims that only seek to offend our country," according to Ep. Spain”, they abounded.
