The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumsaid this Wednesday that he will insist that Spain ask forgiveness for the abuses of the conquest in 2025, when the 700 years of the founding of Tenochtitlanthe ancient city of the Aztec empire.
“There is a lot of arrogance, and we are asking and we are going to insist, next year will be 700 years since the founding of Tenochtitlan1325, and we are going to commemorate it. Forgiveness magnifies people and to governments, and strengthens relationships”the president announced in her morning conference.
The Mexican ruler, who caused controversy for not inviting the king Philip VI upon his inauguration on October 1, he announced that he will maintain this request during his six years in office.
“We are going to continue insisting on forgiveness for Spain, and also make it clear, because it is important, that does not mean that diplomatic relations are broken, no, Mexico y Spain peoples and nations, have a great relationship”he stated.
Sheinbaum made these statements after the participation of the former Mexican president Felipe Calderon (2006-2012), from the right National Action Party (PAN), in the forum ‘Mexico and Spain, friends forever’ organized this week by the Neos Foundation in Madrid, where he questioned the apology request.
The former president said that it cannot be “build the future anchored in the shadow of resentment.”
“I do not agree with Calderón Fortunately, and he should think about asking for forgiveness for the atrocities of the drug war (which began in 2006), maybe he will solve many problems.”responded the current head of state.
The president recalled that it was her idea not to invite the king of Spain to her investiture because the monarch did not respond to the letter that the then president sent him in 2019. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to apologize for the conquest, in addition to considering the response of the then Spanish chancellor, Josep Borrell, “offensive”.
To defend his argument, he cited that the president of USA, Joe Bidenapologized last October on behalf of the Government for the atrocities committed in hundreds of public boarding schools for indigenous children over 150 years, in which they were deprived of their language and culture.
“That does not impoverish a people or it is being installed in the past, no, recognizing allows you to see the future. If one does not recognize past atrocities committed by others, How do you forgive? How do you build a new story?” he commented.