Gibraltar fury over Spanish King's speech to MPs
Monarch accused of ignoring will of people after failing to acknowledge territory's sovereignty

King Felipe of Spain has been accused of ignoring Gibraltar's right to determine its own future in his address to parliament during his state visit to the UK.
The monarch told MPs and peers that the "two governments" of Spain and the UK would find a solution to the territory's future that is "acceptable to all involved".
He added that both sides should seek "dialogue" over the dispute.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His words provoked an angry response from Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who said Felipe was "seeking to ignore" the sovereignty of the Rock.
"What the King has said really harks back to a time when the governments in Madrid and London might make decisions over the heads of the people of Gibraltar," he told Sky News.
The territory's status was "not up for discussion or negotiation", he added.
Picardo also said the King’s comments suggested he was treating Gibraltar as something that could be "traded from one monarch to another", like a "pawn in a chess game, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Tory MPs had threatened to walk out during the monarch's speech if Felipe claimed Spanish sovereignty over Gibraltar, the Daily Telegraph reports.
While no explicit claim was made, Conservative politician Andrew Rosindell called Felipe's comments "inappropriate" and said the diplomatic status of Gibraltar was "none of his business."
Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted Gibraltar's future will not be part of the Brexit discussions.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical