King of Spain, Felipe VI, after being invested as a new knight of the Order of the Garter in London in 2019. Photo: J. Lizón/EFE/file photo.
Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has clarified why King Felipe VI of Spain is not invited to her inauguration scheduled for Tuesday, October 1.
This Wednesday, September 25, through social media platforms, Sheinbaum published a letter reporting that the Mexican Foreign Ministry did not extend an invitation to the King of Spain because the monarch had not responded to a letter sent to him by the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in 2019, asking him to apologize for the “injuries caused” by the Spanish Empire during the Conquest.
“Unfortunately, this letter did not merit a direct response, as would have been the best diplomatic practice,” wrote Sheinbaum.
However, Sheinbaum clarified that an invitation was delivered to the president of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, to attend the ceremony, which will be particularly historic, since it is the first time that a woman will assume the presidency of Mexico.
Under Spain’s monarchy, the head of state is the king. Traditionally, the King of Spain participates in presidential inaugurations around the world.
During the inauguration of Colombia’s President Petro in 2022, King Felipe VI did not stand during the presentation of the saber of the independence hero Simón Bolívar, causing a controversy.
Sobre el comunicado del 24 de septiembre del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación de España. pic.twitter.com/K1rFImrO4p
— Dra. Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) September 25, 2024
Despite the invitation issued to Sánchez, the Spanish government has announced that it would not send any representative to Sheinbaum’s inauguration. The inauguration ceremony was expected to be attended by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz.
Following Spain’s refusal to attend, the future Mexican president added, in her social media post, that she hopes these conditions serve as a fresh starting point for Mexico and Spain to find new avenues for understanding “based on our sovereignty and mutual respect.”
She also wrote that Mexico has been “a supportive ally and a generous destination” for political refugees at critical moments in Spain’s history.
Sheinbaum emphasized that, for her government, the recognition of indigenous peoples is essential to continue advancing in the transformation of public life.
Sheinbaum: Justice in México Strengthened With Judicial Reform
The differences between López Obrador and Spain began five years ago and resulted in neither the king nor the president of the Spanish government returning to the Latin American country.
In 2019, the Mexican president asked, in a diplomatic note sent to Spain’s authorities, for an apology for the abuses committed during the Conquest; however, the Spanish crown did not respond to the letter using the diplomatic channels. Instead, Spain leaked the letter to local media and, later, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release. This was explained by Sheinbaum in her social media post.
In 2021, on the occasion of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the government of Mexico formally recognizing and apologizing for the crimes committed by the Catholic Church against the indigenous peoples of Mexico during the Conquest.
(RedRadioVE) by Ana Perdigón with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
