The Spanish government on Monday declared three Bolivian diplomats “personae non gratae” in a tit-for-tat move as a diplomatic spat deepened with Madrid’s former colony. The move came after Bolivia’s interim president, Jeanine Anez, said La Paz would expel Mexico’s ambassador and two Spanish diplomats over an alleged attempt to extract an ex-government aide to former Bolivian leader Evo Morales. The Socialist government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the three diplomats had 72 hours to leave the country. Madrid categorically denied the claim, saying its riposte was a reaction to “a hostile gesture by the Bolivian government to declare two Spanish diplomats personae non gratae. “Spain categorically rejects any insinuation of presumed willingness to interfere in Bolivia’s internal political affairs,” the government statement read, warning the spat threatened to damage relations by propagating “false” conspiracy theories.

Source: Punch December 30, 2019 18:22 UTC