BERLIN (AP) 鈥 A German parliamentary delegation canceled plans Monday for a visit to fruit farms in a drought-hit region of southern Spain, after a campaign in Germany to discourage consumers from buying 鈥渄rought berries鈥 sparked political controversy.
The cross-party visit by nine German lawmakers this week was meant to include a stop in the Do帽ana national park in Andalusia, home to some of Europe鈥檚 most important wetlands.
The conservative regional government of Andalusia, which is experiencing its worst drought in nearly three decades, wants .
Spain鈥檚 Socialist Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez has made the matter ahead of elections next month.
The German parliament's environmental committee said that 鈥渋n view of the high political importance that the topics of the trip have gained in recent days in the upcoming Spanish national elections, (the committee) has decided to refrain from its long-planned trip to Andalusia at the present time.鈥
The purpose of the trip was to gather information and exchange views on climate change and its consequences, it said in a statement, adding: "We are confident that we can continue this exchange in the future.鈥
S谩nchez鈥檚 party is seeking re-election in a snap general election in July after suffering heavy losses in local elections to the opposition Popular Party last month. A Popular Party spokesperson, Borja S茅mper, on Monday accused accusing the prime minister of 鈥渋ndirectly鈥 supporting a German boycott of locally grown fruit.
鈥淭he least that the prime minister can do is to defend our farmers and the Spanish strawberry,鈥 S茅mper said.
In recent days, S谩nchez has called on voters via Twitter to choose between 鈥渁 Spain that cares about Do帽ana and a Spain that destroys Do帽ana.鈥
Spanish conservationists have warned that half of the nature reserve鈥檚 lakes have already disappeared, threatening the survival of freshwater turtles native to the Iberian peninsula, along with dragonflies and eels. The site is also an important transit point for many migratory bird species.
