Ambassadors of Spain

Ambassadors of Spain are government officials appointed by the Spanish monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act as diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. These appointments do not require any type of confirmation by the Cortes Generales, although the Constitution prevents the government and, therefore, its representatives, from entering into certain international agreements without its authorization.^[1]

Ambassadors report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and, depending on the matter or geographical area, also answer to the Ministry's secretaries of state or directors-general. They do not have a fixed term of office, serving at the pleasure of the government. However, it is an unwritten custom that diplomats serve for at least four years.^[2][3]

According to the 2014 State Foreign Action and Service Act, article 44(4), "Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors, Permanent Representative Ambassadors, and Chargés d'Affaires shall be appointed from among officials of the Diplomatic Service in the manner determined by regulations, without prejudice to the Government, in the exercise of its discretionary power, being able to appoint as Ambassadors persons who do not belong to the Diplomatic Service".^[4] Thus, in Spain there are two types of ambassadors: career diplomats and political appointees. As of August 2024, there are only five "political" ambassadors.^[5]