The first vice president of the Government and acting Minister of Economy, Nadia Calviño, stressed this Saturday after the request of the second vice president, Yolanda Díaz, to stop the purchase by the Saudi STC of 9.9% of Telefónica, that "all necessary mechanisms will be applied to guarantee the protection of Spain's strategic interests."
This is how Calviño spoke in New Delhi, where he is participating in the G20 Summit, in statements to the press in which he avoided specifying what he answered this Friday to Díaz when he informed him of his rejection of this operation and warned him that the Government cannot "consent" it.
Calviño has refused to comment on the "exchanges" of opinions between her and the leader of Sumar, but has emphasized that Spain is "a serious country" that is going to analyze this operation "with maximum rigor." She has also highlighted that the Government has been "strengthening all mechanisms to protect national strategic interests."
"That is what we are going to do, analyze the operation with the utmost rigor. We will make the appropriate decisions and activate the appropriate mechanisms to protect the general interest of the country and this strategic company," he said.
Calviño has stressed that the "strategic role" that Telefónica has in "the defense and security of Spain" will be taken into account, but he has also highlighted that "foreign investment is very important for the economic growth and technological modernization of our country." ".
The head of Economy has explained that she has not had the opportunity to discuss the STC operation with the Saudi Crown Prince, who has also attended the G20 Summit, but she has assured that the Government is in "constant contact" with Telefónica and that its president, José María Álvarez Pallete, keeps it "punctually informed."
