Spanish newspaper La Razón published an editorial accusing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government of politicizing the monarchy, arguing it was fueling an artificial debate over "Monarchy or Republic" to distract from what it called an anguishing electoral picture shown in private polling.
The editorial centered on confusion over whether King Felipe VI would travel to Ceuta, the Spanish city on Africa's northern coast, after two government ministers offered conflicting explanations for why the trip had not taken place.
Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the King's agenda is managed by the government, meaning a visit to Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other North African enclave, depends on the interests of La Moncloa, the seat of the Spanish government. Puente made the remark while correcting cabinet colleague Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, who had said the government had nothing to do with the King's schedule.
La Razón's editorial board said Puente was right on that point, arguing his explanation reflected how a parliamentary monarchy actually functions. It was more critical of Saiz, who had also said the King had shown no interest, as far as she knew, in making the trip. The editorial said the facts showed otherwise.
According to the editorial, the King publicly called for the restoration of law and reaffirmed Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta on the first day of what it described as a migratory invasion of the city. It said that after the government refused to authorize the royal visit, the King received Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, in a lengthy and widely publicized audience.
La Razón called the contrast a political and institutional anomaly, saying the King had shown discretion, respect for his duties and strict adherence to the role assigned to him by the Constitution, while the government had not shown the same regard toward him.
Who is involved
King Felipe VI has served as Spain's head of state since 2014, a largely ceremonial role under Spain's constitutional monarchy in which the king represents the state and is expected to remain above day-to-day political disputes.
Pedro Sánchez has led Spain's government since 2018 as leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. Óscar Puente and Elma Saiz both serve as ministers in his cabinet.
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, bordering Morocco, and along with Melilla is one of two Spanish territories on that coast that have periodically seen spikes in attempted migrant crossings.
Editorial's broader argument
La Razón argued that opening a debate about the monarchy's future served no genuine demand from Spanish society and was instead an attempt to open new fronts of confrontation among citizens at a moment of difficult poll numbers for the government, according to what it described as private surveys.
The editorial singled out Puente for boasting that the government never acts out of electoral interest, saying the comment showed how disconnected he and the government had become from the daily reality of the people they govern.
It closed by saying the King would do whatever he had to do, always acting in the greatest interest of citizens and in the best service to the nation, adding that it was a shame Spain lacked a government that measured up to that standard.
