Spain to attend financial summit
Well Zapatero finally got what he wanted and will be attending the global finance summit being held on the 15th of November. Previously Washington wanted to limit the summit to the G-20, which includes the seven leading industrial powers plus Russia, as well as developing countries such as China, India, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil – but not Spain, the world’s eighth-largest economy. So what has changed?
Well it is not down to Bush having a change of heart, but thanks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Because France is both a G-7 member and the present holder of the EU presidency, Paris is entitled to two seats at the summit. So Sarkozy offered on of the seats to Zapatero. A clever bit of statesmanship there. Looks good in Europe, Zapatero and Sarkozy have similar inclinations, so France has an ally at the summit.
Let us hope Zapatero does not waste this opportunity and shows why Spain should have been included in the first place.
Regards
Andrew Bellés
