The unprecedented holidays of Pedro Sánchez and his family in Morocco have caused a major political uproar. The PP called the move a “clear provocation” and “disgusting”, but Moncloa downplayed the decision.
The stay responds to a personal desire of the President of the Spanish Government to spend a few days away from the spotlight, “without being overwhelmed”, in the neighboring country. Morocco has played an important role in Spanish politics in recent years following conflicts over immigration, the Spanish turn on the Sahara and espionage allegedly attributed to the Moroccan secret services.
But this has not prevented the president from choosing this country to spend a few days of private rest without any political background. And so the Alawite kingdom was reported. It was a simple communication in Rabat, government sources explain. Sánchez would spend a week in Morocco, with his wife and two daughters and without an official agenda. Security, at least the main bulk, would be in charge of the Presidency of the Government. While Morocco only offers occasional support for the “discreet device”.
Sánchez, Begoña Gómez and their two daughters landed on Tuesday night at Marrakesh airport on a regular Iberia flight. They paid, always according to Moncloa sources, the tickets out of their own pockets. As a tourist The travel of the security team, the rental of their cars and their accommodation is covered by the Presidency of the Government. As it is a private holiday, there was no official reception at the Marrakesh airport.
The president’s family has chosen to spend this week in a hotel in the city of the center of the country, which they will also pay for. The plan that the couple has devised is to go on some excursions to some scenic spots and do some shopping.
La Moncloa does not foresee events of political content in the president’s agenda during these days in Morocco. Neither with King Mohamed VI nor with the Government of the neighboring country. On the contrary, they are days for the family.
The trip to Morocco was more of an improvised plan by Sánchez and his family after the July 23 election. The presidential cabinet had planned a holiday in Lanzarote, in the official residence of La Mareta. However, the president decided to include his first week of rest in Morocco. The trip to the Canary Islands today is still planned for next week.
Sánchez’s summer vacation officially began this Tuesday afternoon. In the morning he had been to Moncloa. Earlier, on Monday, he recorded the video aimed at the PSOE militancy in which he communicated his intention to expand the parliamentary majority of the last legislature. On Thursday he spoke by phone with the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and with the president of Brazil, Lula da Silva. In those days he also enjoyed his hobby of cycling.
Sánchez’s private trip has not been understood as such by the PP, which understands that the acting president of the Government is “neglecting his obligations”.
In the absence of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, whose public agenda has been blank for days, his deputy organization secretary, Miguel Tellado, was in charge of evaluating the trip, criticizing that he had decided to “put kilometers in the middle” and to get away from Spain, on a trip to Morocco that he considers a “clear provocation that responds to the pride of the character”.
