Fabien Picardo, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, has waded into the latest row with Spain over the Rock’s sovereignty, saying Madrid could “pounce” if the UK votes to leave the European Union in June’s referendum.
Spain’s centre-right government and Mr Picardo’s administration have clashed on regular occasions over sovereignty and other issues.
The latest round began last Friday when Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel García-Margallo, gave an interview in which he said “we would be talking about Gibraltar the very next day”, if Britons vote to withdraw from the EU on the 23 June.
“This is exactly the type of attitude that we have come to expect from Snr Margallo and it no doubt pervades so many others of his mindset,” said Mr Picardo. “It usefully sets out the danger that those who choose Brexit potentially create for Gibraltar if there is also a Partido Popular [Mr García-Margallo’s centre-right party] government in Spain in the future. This is as vivid an illustration as possible of that.”
Reinforcing the point that Mr García-Margallo remains in his job in a caretaker capacity after December’s inconclusive Spanish general election, a statement issued by Mr Picardo’s government added: “The declared intent of the caretaker Foreign Minister of Spain to bring the question of Gibraltar to the fore in the event of the UK and Gibraltar leaving the EU confirms the analysis that has already been made. It is safer and more secure for Gibraltar to remain in the EU in order to deny Mr Margallo the opportunity to pounce on us.” [...]
Full article on The Independent
© The Independent
Key
Hover over the blue highlighted
text to view the acronym meaning
Hover
over these icons for more information
Comments:
No Comments for this Article