Rabat – The regional government of La Rioja in Spain has announced its decision to take legal action against Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, to recover an unpaid hospital bill amounting to €45,658, Spanish outlet La Razon reported.
The debt stems from Ghali’s 44-day stay at the San Pedro Hospital in Logrono in 2021, where he was treated for severe pneumonia caused by COVID-19. The hospitalization notably sparked significant political and diplomatic controversies.
Brahim Ghali’s treatment in Spain became a contentious issue, leading to the indictment of the then Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya and straining relations with Morocco.
The invoice for Ghali’s medical care was initially issued under the alias Mohamed Benbatouche, which Ghali used when he was admitted. This alias complicated the billing process and delayed the issuance of the correct invoice.
The first invoice was sent in July 2021, followed by a revised one in December 2022, after the correct identification of Ghali. Despite these efforts, the debt remained unpaid. The current government of La Rioja, under the Partido Popular, has resolved to pursue the matter through the courts to reclaim the funds.
Alfonso Dominguez, spokesperson for the La Rioja government and the regional Finance Minister, emphasized their obligation to recover the debt. He mentioned that they had identified a residence for Ghali in Madrid and that the matter would proceed in the civil jurisdiction of Logrono’s courts. Dominguez criticized the previous administration for its “inaction” and stressed the importance of reclaiming the funds.
Ghali’s hospitalization in Spain led to a diplomatic crisis with Morocco, which accused Spain of facilitating Ghali’s entry into the country without proper notification.
In March 2022, Spain shifted its position by recognizing Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the “most serious, realistic, and credible” basis for resolving the conflict. Spain’s change in stance on the regional dispute significantly improved its relations with Morocco.
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