Latin Analysis: Why is AMLO demanding an apology from the European governments?
Pedro PARDO / AFP
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has been a controversial figure since he became Mexico’s head of state. This has happened not only within the country, but also at an international level, as he has taken polemic decisions when it comes to the managing Mexico’s international affairs.
This has been the case as, since 2019, AMLO sent a letter to the Spanish monarchy, requesting them to offer a public apology for the “crimes committed towards the Mexican people during the colonization period”. That is, the mass-slaughtering of indigenous peoples and exploiting the natural resources of their lands during the Spanish occupation of Mexico in 1521. As a consequence, the Spanish government immediately publicly stated that they “lamented that the AMLO’s letter had been made public”, as well as it was established that the Mexican president’s requests were “firmly rejected”.
Nevertheless, even after AMLO’s request was declined, he has been persistent on stating that it is necessary for the Spanish state to apologize to the Mexican indigenous communities if a renovated Spain – Mexico relationship is to be accomplished.
This year, AMLO decided to send a similar letter to the Vatican, addressed to the Pope Francis. The Mexican president mentioned in said letter that the Catholic Church had to acknowledge the role of complicity it had during the Spanish invasion and their crimes against humanity committed during the 16th century. Additionally, AMLO made a petition for the Vatican Republic to grant “official forgiveness” to José Maria Morelos y Pavón and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla; two Mexican priests who were excommunicated and condemned due to them being leaders of the Mexican rebel forces who fought for the independence.
In his letter, AMLO also requested several Pre-Hispanic and artistic Mexican pieces which are exposed in the Vatican Museum to be borrowed. AMLO has the purpose of bringing those pieces to Mexico to put together a special exposition for 2021 to commemorate the 500 years of the consummation of colonial independence and to celebrate the Mexican indigenous cultures.
Contrary to the Spanish government, the Pope Francis has not given yet any immediate comments. Nevertheless, according to experts, his response is not expected to be as rigid as the Spanish response was, as the Pope Francis has already apologized to other indigenous communities in Larin America. Indeed, in 2015 the head of the Vatican State went to Bolivia to ask for forgiveness regarding the role they had during the Spanish colonization and the genocide the native communities suffered during that time. Given that this event became widely celebrated by Latin American politicians and activists, AMLO’s letter is expected to have a positive response.
Moreover, to follow AMLO’s letters closely, the first lady – Beatriz Gutierrez Müller – has started a trip around Europe, in which she will be meeting with the Pope Francis, as well as heads of states of France, Italy, Spain, and Austria. The latter nation will also receive a message from AMLO, requesting to have the Tuft (crown) of Moctezuma to be temporarily returned to Mexico as part of the 2021 celebrations of independence. Nevertheless, even Mexico’s president recognizes that this is nearly an “impossible mission” due to the fragility of the artifact and the historical lack of willingness from the Austrian authorities to remove it from the Museum of Ethnology in Vienna.
Many critics have established that AMLO is re-sparking political and social conflicts which had already been left for history and insist that the Mexican head of state should focus on the challenges of the future instead. However, some other experts have also established that it is necessary to talk about decolonization when it comes to politics in Latin America, as well as it that it is necessary to reconsider how the colonization perspective has been a part of the social dynamics.
Accordingly, to support the decolonization approach of AMLO, several activists gathered in Mexico City around statues of Christopher Columbus on October 12th. They demanded these figures to be removed, given that they represent the start of the Spanish invasion which, as they established, is not worthy of celebration.
Up until now, after the harsh response from Felipe VI of Spain, there has been no further comment on their side, despite AMLO’s insistence. However, the Spanish decision might be affected if other heads of state of European nations start responding favorably to AMLO’s letter. Indeed, the Mexican president is coloring the Mexico – Europe relationships in an unexpected way. This phenomenon might, in the future, have an impact on the Latin American country and its agreements surrounding trade.
