The Association of Spanish Diplomats (ADE) sent its first press bulletin to all its members with the aim of countering the censorship that, according to some consulted diplomats, is being applied in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has been reported that in the daily press summary of the Ministry, there is no longer information about critical publications against José Manuel Albares, many of which appeared in ABC.
The press bulletin sent by the ADE contains 63 references to information published in national and international media, including radio and television programs. Twelve of these links come from publications of ABC, which has been notable for denouncing the actions of Minister Albares and collecting the complaints of diplomats.
A diplomat mentions that the official document of the Ministry is useful for keeping up with international political issues, but it is also important to be informed about news related to the diplomatic career that appears in the national press, since many times when abroad they do not have such close follow-up of this information.
Although the official press summary of Foreign Affairs does not include critical publications about the minister, this information does appear in the national press summary that is distributed daily by the Presidency of the Government. From the Office of Diplomatic Information of the Ministry, they explain that they focus on international politics and argue that embassies and ministerial units have access to specific media.
Some consulted diplomats express that previously critical information about the minister was included in the daily press summary of Foreign Affairs. However, the OID defends that its function is to coordinate the Ministry's communication, following the provisions of article 24 of Royal Decree 1184/2024, which implies a strategic planning of communication.
In view of this situation, the ADE has decided to start its own press summary to avoid censorship, considering that this is only the visible part of a broader problem within Foreign Affairs. An official on a mission outside Spain describes it as shameful that the daily summaries of the Ministry are being censored, excluding critical articles about the minister.
