Spanish Parliament Summons PM Sanchez Over Morocco-Algeria Diplomatic Rift

Pedro Sanchez will have to account to Congress for his trip on April 7 to Rabat, marking the beginning of the new stage in the relationship between the two countries, after Spain’s decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, considered as the "most serious and credible" basis for resolving this conflict. A decision that provoked the anger of Algeria, a supporter of the Polisario against Morocco in this conflict, and one of Spain’s main gas suppliers, recalls El Mundo.

À lire : Spanish Congress Rejects Government’s Shift on Western Sahara Autonomy Plan

On April 12, the PP requested Sanchez’s appearance for this purpose. On his Twitter account, the spokeswoman for the PP parliamentary group, Cuca Gamarra, denounced the fact that Sanchez had made such an important decision without consulting Congress, stressing that this decision has already had "serious consequences" on Spain’s relations with Algeria. For his part, the general coordinator of the PP, Elías Bendodo (of Moroccan origin), asked the government to explain in detail the joint declaration that sanctioned the meeting between Sanchez and Mohammed VI in Rabat.

À lire : Algeria Considers Gas Price Hike for Spain Amid Diplomatic Tensions and Energy Crisis

In the request for Sanchez’s appearance, the PP indicates that in reaction to Spain’s change of position on the Sahara, Algeria has threatened to raise the price of gas sold to Spain and to strengthen its energy relationship with Italy to the detriment of Spain, which risks "threatening the regular supply of gas to the country".