Mexico and Spain: what did AMLO mean with the idea of ​​”pausing” relations between the two countries

But his way of expressing it gave rise to many comments, since one interpretation of what was said was that he was breaking relations with the Spanish government.

The chancellor of that country, José Manuel Albares, expressed only his surprise: “The relationship between Spain and Mexico is a strategic partnership that goes beyond sudden verbal statements or specific words,” he said.

And this Thursday he issued a statement in which he affirms that “the government of Spain categorically rejects the disqualifications” of López Obrador.

“Spain is the second largest investor in Mexico and has 7.000 companies in that country . Spanish investment rises above 24.000 millions of euros and the Mexican in Spain exceeds .000 million [US$28.600 millones]”, he added.

The press in both countries was filled with headlines about the occurrence of the Mexican president .

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares, expressed his surprise at López Obrador’s statements.

Given this, López Obrador said that there was no break. But he insisted on the need to distance Mexico from the business of Spanish companies.

“We are very respectful of the Spanish people, we have intimate relations with the people of Spain, but in recent times, in the neoliberal period, Spanish companies supported by the political power of both Spain and Mexico, abused our country and our people. They saw us as a land of conquest. That was what I said yesterday”, he explained.

Why did the idea of ​​the “ pause”?

On Wednesday, in his morning press conference, López Obrador spoke about the reform promoted by his government, which privileges the generation of national electricity over private and foreign investments.

He said that his proposed law seeks to “repair a damage that has been caused the nation” due to the energy and infrastructure agreements that existed in previous governments with private companies.

And criticized the “lobbyists” that, from their point of view, they formed “juicy businesses under the protection of power”.

“Before they were like owners of Mexico. This is the case of Spanish companies”.

When asked if he was talking about a break with Spain, López Obrador said: “No, no no no”.

The president also acknowledged that in his government “relationship is not good” with Spanish firms.

“To me I would like it to take us until it was normalized to take a break, which I think will suit us Mexicans and Spaniards, of course the people of Mexico and the people of Spain, to take a break in relations, because it was a collusion at the top, an economic-political promiscuity at the top of the governments of Mexico and Spain, but like three six-year terms in a row, and Mexico had the worst part, they looted it”, he explained. that’s it.

Before the question of the journalists. the same Wednesday, on whether what he said meant a rupture of diplomatic relations, the president rejected that idea. He said that he had expressed only “one comment.”

“I can’t make any comments anymore then? Now, it’s a talk here, a conversation, that is, so that people have all the elements,” he said.

How did you explain what you said afterwards?

In addition to the doubts about what he meant, in Mexico and Spain the president was criticized for using the presidential microphone to slip comments on diplomatic relations lightly. Or “sudden”, as Spanish Foreign Minister Albares called them.

“Spain will always work to maintain the best relations with Mexico and strengthen ties with this sister nation. The government wants relations based on mutual respect, as the Spaniards and Mexicans want, without this type of demonstration,” said the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs this Thursday.

So this Thursday, the Mexican president brought up the subject again.

Although he insisted that he did not propose a break in relations, he reiterated his proposal to distance Mexico of the investments of Spanish companies in projects with public capital.

He referred to the energy company Iberdrola, the pet rolera Repsol, the construction company OHL and the financial BBVA to reinforce his point of view on alleged corruption and patronage in the last two decades.

“In each six-year term there was a favorite company . Iberdrola was treated with privileges that affected us,” said López Obrador.

He gave as an example the fact that a secretary of Energy, Georgina Kessel, and a chairman, Felipe Calderón, joined Iberdrola’s board of directors at the end of their positions.

“When the chairman of the board of this company came and we talked I did not understand that these are other times. He insisted and insisted that everything they did was legal. Well, yes, because they put into practice a policy characterized by influencerism,” said López Obrador.

Iberdrola did not immediately offer any comment on López Obrador’s statements.

The president considered that the investment agreements between the Spanish firms and the Mexican government have been harmful to the country.

“ They have offended us Mexicans, because it is not only the fact that senior officials work in those companies, but also what that type of relationship costs us. We are talking about subsidies, money from the budget of all Mexicans that instead of being used to lift the people out of poverty, was used to favor these companies.”

On the other hand, he expressed that his position is not against the Spanish people.

“He deserves all our respect because it is a hard-working people and an extraordinary people, a good people. We are referring to those at the top, to those at the top of the power, economic and political”, he assured.

13529032661126199939