Only by decision of the Spanish government did the king not attend some inaugurations, mainly those at which his father was the representative as honorary king. Juan Carlos Ias soon as he left the throne, although he stopped taking on the role in March 2018, just before his reputation began to deteriorate.

In other cases, the executive branch did not send Don Felipe as a representative for political reasons, as was the case with the inauguration of the former President of Brazil. Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 or the current president of El Salvador, Naib Bukele.

He did not do this in April 2013, when he came to power. Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela due to the internal crisis that arose in the Caribbean country after the death of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

The then Prince of Asturias also attended the investiture ceremony in Mexico. Enrique Peña Nieto (2012), who invited him for a state visit three years later; Felipe Calderon (2006) and Vincent Fox (2000).

Lopez Obrador thanked the king for his presence in the Mexican capital at the beginning of his mandate “for ties that unite both countries and Congress applauded the king after receiving the president’s message.

But just four months later, bilateral relations cooled when Mexico’s then president wrote to Spain asking for help. forgiveness and acknowledged “his historical responsibility” for the “massacre” committed during the conquest five centuries ago and after Mexico gained independence in 1821.

The Spanish government, now headed by Pedro Sanchez, issued a statement expressing deep regret that the letter had been made public in the media and rejected its contents “with all firmness”.

“The arrival of the Spaniards five hundred years ago on what is now Mexican land cannot be judged in the light of modern considerations“, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Since the diplomatic incident of Felipe VI did not make any references to Lopez Obrador’s demand for forgiveness and limited himself to highlighting the ties that unite Spain with the Ibero-American countries.

Ibero-American Summit of AndorraIn April 2021, coinciding with the bicentennial of independence of countries such as Mexico, one of the forums was held in which Felipe VI declared these connections historical.

These are great events of a common and shared history that fill us with pride and define our current Ibero-American identity (…) We want to be part of this commemoration, remember the past and, above all, share projects and challenges for the future.

EFE