Felipe VI awaits «instructions» from Sanchez to try to defuse the crisis with Morocco

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs did not wish, yesterday, to answer a question related to a possible mediation of King Felipe VI in the crisis with Morocco. On Thursday, El Mundo reported that Felipe VI «awaits instructions» from the head of the left coalition government to contact King Mohammed VI directly.

Pedro Sanchez revealed on Tuesday in a statement that he informed Felipe VI of the exodus of thousands of Moroccans to Ceuta. The two «analyzed» the measures to be taken to face the «challenge», he explained. It was following this conversation that the monarch called the president of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, to express his «solidarity».

In Spain, the king's interventions require the green light from the head of government. For the record, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Margallo immediately called Felipe VI to ask him to defuse the crisis of the interception, in August 2014 by a patrol of the Civil Guard, of a yacht aboard which was King Mohammed VI.