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Spain’s conservatives shock with PM death wish tweet for Reyes

Spain's conservative Popular Party (PP) was left with egg on its face Saturday after posting a video on Twitter suggesting it wished Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez dead, drawing criticism and forcing it to delete the tweet.

Published: 7 January 2019 10:26 CET
Spain's conservatives shock with PM death wish tweet for Reyes

 Furious, the government said in a statement it would take the matter to prosecutors to see if “this tweet constitutes an offence and if it does, to move forward with criminal proceedings against the authors and those that publically disseminated it.”

The video, posted on the eve of Epiphany — a popular celebration in Spain that sees the three kings give presents to children just like Father Christmas — shows a man reading out his son's wish-list to the Biblical Magi (three kings).

READ MORE: Why Spain loves the Three Kings more than Santa

“My favourite singer was Amy Winehouse, and you took her away,” the father says in the video, meant to be a humorous sketch, with his son on his knees.   

“My favourite actor was Robin Williams, and you took him away. My favourite comic was Chiquito de la Calzada, and you also took him away.   

“I'm only writing you another letter to tell you that my favourite prime minister is Pedro Sanchez.”


Screenshot of the tweet with video that has since been deleted. 

The video caused an outcry amid criticism the PP had gone too far in wishing the death of its arch-rival, prompting the party to delete its tweet and apologise.

“It was not our intention to offend or wish harm on anyone. It was a mistake,” it tweeted.

PEDRO SÁNCHEZ

Spain’s PM in quarantine after Macron tests positive

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will quarantine until December 24th after French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19, his office said in a statement on Thursday.

Published: 17 December 2020 11:57 CET
Spain's PM in quarantine after Macron tests positive
The two leaders met on Monday in Paris. Photo: AFP

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has suspended all public activities and will self-isolate until Christmas Eve

Sanchez cancelled all items on his agenda for the coming days, starting with his attendance at a ceremony on Thursday at which King Felipe is to open an exhibition.

The Socialist leader attended a number of events in Paris on Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including a lunch with Macron.

Video footage of Macron welcoming the Spanish prime minister at the Elysee Palace showed both wore masks and did not shake hands.

Sanchez, whose wife contracted the virus at the start of the pandemic in March, will be tested for COVID-19.

In a statement the Elysée Palace said that the French president had tested positive for the virus after showing symptoms.

“The president tested positive for Covid-19 today (Thursday),” it said in a statement, adding he had been tested after the “onset of the first symptoms”.

Macron will now, in accordance with national regulations, “self isolate for seven days. He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely,” it said.

The president, 42, had taken a PCR test and his office added that he had shown only mild symptoms.

READ MORE: French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid-19

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