Last Wednesday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) assured that he would pause the relationship with Spain; However, today he clarified that he only wants to pause the “leonine” contracts with Spanish companies, since political influence makes the movements of companies such as Repsol and Iberdrola “irregular”, who hire leaders of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party ( PSOE).
He also assured that Spanish companies are not the only ones, but there are also American and Mexican ones, such as the Mexican Economic Development, commonly known as FEMSA, causing “conservatism to grow like foam.”
AMLO wants to pause contracts with Spanish companies like Repsol and Liberdrola; Spain wants to accelerate the relationship with Mexico
After AMLO assured during the morning conference last Wednesday that relations with Spain were going to be given some time, so that they respect the country and do not see it as a land of conquest, since Repsol, OHL and Iberdrola abused the country and from town.
“Then, it is better to give us some time, a pause, maybe when the government changes, relations will already be established,” AMLO asserted.
In this regard, the foreign minister of the Spanish government, José Manuel Albares, said at a press conference yesterday that AMLO’s statements were “unjustified”, since “the Spanish government and Spanish society have done nothing to motivate them” .
He also clarified that there are currently 7,000 Spanish companies with a presence in Mexico and that Mexican investments are welcome in Spain; hovering between 25 billion euros.
Does Mexico say goodbye to “Leonist” contracts?
After the controversy, a journalist asked the president of Mexico about the terms of the relationship with Spain; the President clarified that the problem is not with the Spanish people, but with their companies.
“We greatly respect the Spanish people. One thing is the Spanish people, another thing is the government and another thing is the monarchy, they are different and we greatly respect the Spanish people and also another thing are the Spanish companies. The only complaint, the only question is that it abused our country in other times and was considered a land of conquest, by the companies and by the political influence that was carried out above, in the dome of the powers of both Spain like from Mexico. That is no longer allowed and that is what has been decided, but the relationship is not broken, ”said the Mexican president.
From his trench, Albares said that he will defend his citizens in any situation.
The diplomatic relationship will continue; however, leonine contracts will no longer be delivered with the aim that the role of companies in the country changes, they are no longer “irregular” and that their contracts are not based on “influencerism” to avoid the perpetuation of conservatism.
It is not the first time that AMLO attacks Spain, in 2019 he sent a letter to the King to apologize for the abuses of the Mexican people during the conquest. His request did not lead to any diplomatic action.
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