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Join on Telegram Kenitra – Spain is preparing to appoint its new ambassador in Rabat and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s choice is said to be Bernardino Leon, as revealed by Spanish media OK Diario this Friday, September 3.
The seasoned Spanish diplomat is known for being a close associate of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the former Spanish head of government.
Bernardino Leon is familiar with Moroccan politics. In addition to his functions within Spanish diplomacy, he was the UN envoy for Libya since 2014.
Moreover, it was under his mandate that Libya’s rival factions signed the Morocco-moderated Skhirat Agreement in December 2015.
Zapatero played a crucial role in the recent rapprochement between Morocco and Spain, with reports that the diplomat was instrumental in controlling the damage that followed Spain’s reception of the Polisario leader Brahim Ghali in a hospital in Logrono.
Zapatero has also led efforts to convince King Mohammed VI to host Pedro Sanchez in 2018.
In fact, he had discussed this topic with the sovereign during their meeting on July 30, 2018 in Tangier, held on the sidelines of Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations.
The current Spanish ambassador to Morocco is Ricardo Díez-Hochleitner, and he has been in Rabat since 2015.
Díez-Hochleitner was appointed by the former foreign minister, Jose Margallo.
The Sanchez government had decided in October 2020 to extend Díez-Hochleitner’s presence in Rabat for another 12 months, and his mandate expires at the end of next month.
Morocco and Spain are currently amending a summer of diplomatic disputes.
Relations between the two kingdoms soured in the past few months, with tensions reaching unprecedented heights in May after the Spanish government greenlighted the hospitalization in Spain of Polisario leader Brahim Ghali.
Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, who had been recalled back to Morocco following the diplomatic dispute, is expected to resume her duties soon. Upon her return in Spain, Ambassador Benyaich will start working on the preparation of a highly anticipated High Level meeting between Morocco and Spain, according to converging reports.
