José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has dismissed Juan González-Barba, Ambassador of Spain to Croatia, causing unease among diplomats. Albares reportedly dismissed González-Barba for writing in favor of parliamentary monarchy and Felipe VI, which some consider 'worrying' and 'very serious.'
This dismissal is interpreted as a warning from Albares to his diplomatic colleagues, reminding them that they must consult the Diplomatic Information Office before speaking to journalists or writing in the media. It is believed that since Albares took office, the freedom of expression of officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been restricted.
González-Barba is not the only ambassador dismissed for writing in the media, which has generated frustration among the diplomatic community. In addition, the 'briefings' of Directors General have been eliminated, making it difficult for journalists to understand Spain's foreign policy.
Despite the restrictions imposed by Albares, many diplomats do not plan to actively oppose them, hoping that his term will come to an end at some point. They believe that, regardless of the acting minister, they must continue to perform their work to the best of their ability for the benefit of Spanish foreign policy.
These cases add to others like that of Javier Benosa, who was relieved of his post in Gibraltar. Tensions between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the House of H.M. have also been evident, exacerbated by Albares' animosity towards the Royal Family.
