Overview

• Closing the IX Open Government Partnership summit in Vitoria, the king cautioned that democracy faces a decisive moment driven by citizen disengagement and the rise of populisms.
• He promoted open government as a governance culture grounded in transparency, participation, collaboration, accountability and integrity to rebuild public trust.
• Felipe VI praised Spain’s coordination across local, regional and national levels as exemplary despite recent disputes over wildfire and storm responses.
• During the summit week, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a new Government Transparency Portal and reforms to the Public Sector Procurement Platform.
• The king expressed enthusiasm and hope over a reported Hamas–Israel agreement to end the war in Gaza and urged Benjamin Netanyahu to accept peace and enable the captives’ return.