[War] Spain: Business and Pleasure

[Iain]

"Business and Pleasure."
Prime Minister Elena Garcia Rodriguez
Spain
29th July 2014
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It had been a long time since Elena had flown abroad in one of the
government jets, and on the rare occasion that she had both during her
diplomatic and ministerial careers it had been as one of the junior figures
on a foreign visit. Now not only was she the top-dog on this trip but she
was on a much smaller airliner than she was used to. Due to the limited
number of staff she had decided to take on the Azerbaijani trip, for both
security reason and that she was going to need little advice, the Cessna
Citation had only herself and 7 others in the comfortably-furnished cabin
and most of those were security staff.

This was the reason that she had called her husband Diego prior to boarding
the jet, when she had been able to have a little more privacy. Now, on the
way to return to Spain and her man, she spoke to him using her laptop,
ensuring that behind her was only the outside of the jet so no-one could see
the soppy mush they were heaping on each other. She had always intended to
take him with her on foreign visits but one that was as potentially
dangerous as this had led to her all but ordering him to stay home.

That coupled with the fact that she had neglected to pay the gas bill before
she had left for the Middle East were the reason she was now making a point
of smoozing up to him. Not that she didn't enjoy a bit of flirtation with
her husband of four years regularly but there were times to up the anti.

Elena was aware of a telephone being proffered in her direction and closed
over the laptop with a quizzical expression. The head of her security sat
opposite her with a stern look on his face, the one which he always wore.
Elena had a theory he had made that face one day and the wind had changed
direction leaving it permanently scowling.

"The Minister of the Interior for you, Prime Minister." His voice betrayed
no emotion. This man was clearly some sort of robot, one whose only emotion
was disapproval.

Elena took the phone and placed her husband, neatly folded away in the
laptop, onto the table on her right. "Hola Alfredo, what can I do for you?"

"Prime Minister," the line was bad, but what could one expect for a
jet-board telephone, even if it was an executive jet. "I felt I should
inform you that there's some backlash in the media about your visit to
Azerbaijan."

The staff aboard the Cessna knew the look that crossed Rodriguez's face at
that moment. It was clear she had business to attend to and was about to go
into 'take no hostages' mode.

"What kind of backlash are we talking about?"

There was a pause then a deep breath, clearly the man was not happy about
being the one to broach this topic with his boss. "There have been a few
opposition Deputies voice criticism of your visit to Azerbaijan yet not even
a dialogue with Tehran. The media have picked this up as an opportunity for
Prime Minister-bashing particularly about your lack of support for the
Muslims in Spain and abroad."

Elena actually sniffed in humour a little. The media usually was a bit more
high brow and better informed than this when it came to slating her, however
she decided that she should probably not complain.

"OK," A deep breath then she launched right in, expecting that Alfredo would
have the sense to be taking notes. "Get some of our guys in the press to get
some articles out there about how Azerbaijan also a predominantly Muslim
country and has a rather stunning record on human rights compared to Iran.
You might also want to get something in there about suspected links between
recent terrorism activity and Iran. Secondly, I get Tristan to use his charm
and make an official statement from myself and my cabinet. We have not
negotiated with Iran because they have refused to do so with NATO of which
we are a proud member. Furthermore, we have several Muslim members of the
party and have in the past come out in full support of Islam in Spain when
attacks on that community from Christian extremists occurred. And just to
make sure they get the point arrange a visit for myself and the Minister of
Culture to visit the revamped Mosque in Seville."

"Ok, Elena, I'll get on to Tristan."

"And, Alfredo?"

"Yes?" He sounded apprehensive.

"See what you can dig up about the Deputies that started this whole thing, a
little ammo wouldn't go amiss."

"Yes, ma'am." 

"Thanks for the update, see you at our 1000 tomorrow?"

"See you then."

Elena handed the phone back and picked up the laptop again. She was going to
get Diego to meet her in Madrid, it was going to be a cuddles night.

ACTIONS:

1) Bit of insight into Rodriguez's social situation/attitude
2) Control of any backlash in media regarding support in Azerbaijan
3) Visit to Mosque and general statement of wellwishing to Muslims in Spain.