Spain Reaffirms Stance on Western Sahara, Sparking Political Tension

"Morocco knows that Spain is seeking a just and acceptable solution for Western Sahara," the minister said at a press conference on Monday. This statement follows the plea of the secretary general of the far-left party Podemos in favor of a "referendum in the Sahara."

"The one who leads the foreign policy of the Spanish government is the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs," said Mr. Grande-Marlaska in response to the reactions that followed the previous statements of the Spanish government.

A few days ago, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, had reacted to the statements of Pablo Iglesias, second vice-president of the government of Pedro Sanchez. "The position of the Spanish government on the Sahara is very clear and has not changed in the last few hours, days or weeks," she had hammered.

"Any member of the government may have their personal opinion, but the government is a collegiate body and must be up to the decisions that are made. This must remain very clear. Any other member of the government who has a different position from that of the government will have to keep it private, the position of the country is set by the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Margarita Robles, the Spanish Minister of Defense, had also stated.