Sánchez cancels Andorra holiday after plans are leaked
The trip sparked particular controversy as it was due to take place amid the migration crisis in Ceuta
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has reportedly cancelled a private trip to Andorra that was intended to mark the final stage of his summer holiday after his plans became public and triggered significant political and media controversy.
According to ABC, the decision was made during a meeting at the Moncloa Palace following several hours of uncertainty and growing internal unease over the leak of a trip that the Prime Minister’s inner circle had reportedly intended to keep as discreet as possible.
The planned visit sparked particular controversy because it came amid the migration crisis in Ceuta and just days before Sánchez was due to appear before Congress to provide explanations. According to the newspaper, the Prime Minister ultimately decided to abandon the trip amid the political and media pressure generated by the revelations.
Reports about the cancellation and the reasons behind it are based on government sources cited by the newspaper. So far, the Moncloa has not publicly detailed Sánchez’s private plans for his stay in Andorra.
Moncloa brings forward Sánchez’s appearance on Ceuta
Meanwhile, the Spanish government has decided to bring forward Sánchez’s appearance before the Congress of Deputies to September 3 to address the situation in Ceuta. The session had initially been scheduled for September 9.
The decision comes after several days of pressure from parliamentary allies, opposition parties and figures within Sánchez’s own Socialist Party over the government’s response to the migration crisis.
According to the published reports, the disclosure of Sánchez’s holiday plans increased unease within the Moncloa and made it politically more difficult for the Prime Minister to proceed with the trip to Andorra just days before the parliamentary debate.
ABC reports that Sánchez was still reluctant to cancel the trip entirely on Wednesday afternoon and that the possibility of postponing his departure until Friday, August 28, and travelling by private vehicle had been considered. Ultimately, however, his closest advisers reportedly recommended cancelling the trip.
Luxury hotel reportedly booked in advance
The newspaper also reports, citing government sources, that rooms at a five-star luxury hotel in Andorra had been booked approximately two weeks in advance. According to the report, prices at the hotel range from around €500 to €2,000 per night, depending on the room and the season.
Sánchez had reportedly planned to spend the final days of his summer break in the Principality, where he has previously taken part in activities such as mountain biking and hiking.
The disclosure of the trip, however, came at a particularly sensitive moment for the Spanish government and prompted criticism over whether the Prime Minister should extend his holiday while the crisis in Ceuta remained unresolved.
Unease within the Socialist Party
The government’s handling of the situation has also generated criticism from within the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Among the most critical voices is the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, who described the Spanish government’s response to the crisis as “clearly insufficient.”
The cancellation means that, at least for now, another private visit by Sánchez to Andorra will not go ahead. Political attention will instead turn to his September 3 appearance before Congress, where he is expected to provide explanations regarding the government’s handling of the migration crisis.
