Spain's King Felipe VI acknowledged 'much abuse' during the conquest of America, stating that some facts do not make Spaniards proud by today's values. The Spanish government backed his words 100%, and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum hailed it as a gesture of rapprochement.
On Monday, King Felipe VI visited the exhibition 'La mujer en el México indígena' at Madrid's National Archaeological Museum with Mexican ambassador Quirino Ordaz Coppel. There, he stated there was 'much abuse' in America's conquest and that, by today's values, 'obviously they cannot make us feel proud,' though they must be contextualized without 'excessive moral presentism' but with 'objective and rigorous analysis' (Casa Real, social media). The exhibit, running until March 22, is part of a Spain-Mexico project to strengthen ties by recognizing indigenous cultures. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had previously noted 'pain and injustice' toward Mexican indigenous peoples, saying it is 'fair to recognize and lament it' (months ago). On Tuesday March 17, spokeswoman Elma Saiz endorsed the king's words '100 percent,' confirming the government was informed. She hopes for a top-level Ibero-American Summit in Madrid (November). Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed the 'gesture of rapprochement' in her press conference, acknowledging 'excesses and extermination' and calling to 'continue advancing in dialogue.' She contrasted it with AMLO's unanswered 2019 letter, which cooled relations; Sheinbaum did not invite the king to her October 2024 inauguration, and Spain sent no representative. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP) expressed pride in Spain's legacy, highlighting linguistic and cultural community, and called scrutinizing the 15th century a 'disaster.' Saiz criticized Feijóo for 'denying history' and 'embracing ultra-denialist positions.' Sheinbaum praised Mesoamerican cultures: Mayas invented zero, advanced in cosmology and medicine.
