Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has sparked a new controversy by publicly denouncing King Felipe VI for appearing in a photo with Spanish media personality Javier Negre. The image was taken during the inauguration of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in Cali on 7 August 2026. The event drew international leaders and required extensive security. Colombian outlets reported that about 11,000 soldiers and police were deployed for the ceremony, held in Cali rather than the traditional venue of Bogotá.
Puente, known for his active presence on X, posted a message on the Monday after the ceremony, describing the situation as an “absolute ignominy.” He was referring to a widely circulated video showing Negre approach the King, ask for a photo and later share the images on his official channels. The footage quickly gained traction online and fueled debate about the appropriateness of the monarch's interactions.
Felipe VI attended as part of Spain's institutional representation in Ibero-America, alongside foreign leaders including Argentina's Javier Milei. Colombian coverage identified the inauguration as de la Espriella's assumption of the presidency. Reports also described the choice of Cali, rather than the usual Bogotá venue, as coming amid heightened concerns about violence and security. During the ceremony, de la Espriella emphasized restoring order and authority.
Javier Negre, a 41-year-old Spanish communicator and president of EdaTV, has become a polarizing figure in recent years. His media network has expanded internationally, while the revenue figures cited for EdaTV rose from €346,000 in 2021 to €1.3 million in 2024. Negre's wider media group, Right News Media, includes projects such as Estado De Emergencia TV, Informa Radio, UHN Plus, VisegradES, Nexjournal and The Energy Post. On 23 October 2026, Argentine businessman and former Peronist official Manzano acquired a reported 21% stake in Right News Media, a group directed globally by Negre.
The article has also raised questions about institutional advertising and the financial relationships surrounding EdaTV. It cites support from administrations led by the Partido Popular, the Argentine government and ideologically aligned business interests. Former colleagues have described Negre's approach to securing institutional advertising as direct and persistent, often involving pitches to local officials for promotional deals. His rise has coincided with broader debate about media figures' political connections and the influence of public advertising.
The King's appearance with Negre has revived earlier controversies. Social media users, including Julián Macías, have pointed to Negre's previous public criticism of Queen Letizia, highlighting tensions between some media personalities and the royal family. The debate echoes political clashes in Spain over far-right rhetoric and its effect on public discourse, a subject explored in recent coverage of political tensions in Ceuta.
At the Cali inauguration, Felipe VI was also seen interacting with several international leaders, including Milei. Later reports by El Correo and Infobae noted that the Spanish King and the Argentine president had crossed paths at the ceremony. Negre, who has nearly 500,000 social media followers, described the encounter as a pleasure, drawing further attention to the event. The video's rapid spread across platforms such as X has intensified scrutiny of the monarchy's public engagements and the influence of media figures in Spain's political debate.
The controversy unfolded against the monarchy's wider diplomatic role. El Correo described the King's attendance at such ceremonies as part of his institutional representative function in Ibero-America. The newspaper also reported that Argentina had informally sought a separate audience with Felipe VI, while the Casa del Rey maintained that such an audience should also involve Spain's head of government. The episode has renewed debate about how public institutions handle visibility and accountability in the digital age, including the balance between ceremonial tradition and public scrutiny.
