Felipe VI receives Imanol Pradales in Zarzuela with a “congratulations, Lehendakari”

Felipe VI received the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, this Monday at the Zarzuela Palace, two weeks after he was sworn in as head of the Basque executive, replacing Iñigo Urkullu. The meeting lasted about two hours and both parties described it as “cordial”.

The King welcomed Pradales to the audience hall, where they shook hands in the presence of the media before going to the office of the King of Spain to hold the meeting.

“Congratulations, Lehendakari”the Spanish monarch told the leader of his election, when he greeted him on the first occasion he set foot in the Zarzuela.

The meeting is part of Felipe VI’s custom, inherited from his father, Juan Carlos I, of meeting with regional presidents when they are appointed to office.

The head of the Basque government stated on Monday, before travelling to Madrid, that the meeting with the head of state will take place “a meeting with a protocol character” and an initial contact, “of mutual acquaintance,” in which he trusted that “a good understanding would develop.”

Pradales also follows the tradition of the five Lehendakaris who preceded him, who were received into the Zarzuela upon his accession.

In the case of Felipe VI he met Urkull in 2020, at the beginning of his third term, although he was also in Zarzuela in November 2014 as part of the round of contacts with institutional officials following his proclamation.

In January 2013, a few months after his arrival at the Ajuria Enea Palace, Urkullu met Juan Carlos I, who at that time also received his predecessors, Patxi López, Juan José Ibarretxe, José Antonio Ardanza and Carlos Garaikoetxea.

After his meeting with Felipe VI, Pradales will begin this thursday a round with the parties of the Basque parliamentary arch, with the exception of Vox, to reflect together on the country’s priorities and challenges and to establish a working methodology.