Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has tested positive for Covid-19 in a compulsory test for attending the G20 summit in India, and has cancelled his trip. The meeting is to be held this Saturday and Sunday.
Sánchez himself confirmed this on his X (formerly Twitter) account: ‘This afternoon I have tested positive for Covid and will not be able to travel to New Delhi to attend the G-20 Summit.’
He added that ‘Spain will be magnificently represented by the first deputy prime minister and minister of economic affairs (Nadia Calviño) and the minister of foreign affairs (José Manuel Albares).’
Sánchez said that he ‘feels well’ and he will continue to work from his residence, according to Moncloa. Although not one of the world’s 20 wealthiest countries, Spain is invited to the summit along with Egypt, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
This weekend, the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies are meeting to push for food security, climate action and debt relief for poor nations. At the end of the meeting, a G20 Leaders’ Declaration will be adopted, stating members’ commitment to the priorities discussed and agreed during the various meetings.
This is the second time that Sánchez has contracted Covid. The first was on 25 September 2022 after attending the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He was then forced to cancel his participation at several events.
Esta tarde he dado positivo en COVID y no podré viajar a Nueva Delhi para asistir a la Cumbre del G-20.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) September 7, 2023
Me encuentro bien.
España estará magníficamente representada por la vicepresidenta primera y ministra de Asuntos Económicos y el ministro de Exteriores, UE y Cooperación.
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