The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Madurocriticized this Wednesday that Spain celebrates October 12 as a national holiday for Hispanic Heritage Day, whose origins lie in the conquest of America in 1492, estimating that “it is the day when the genocide was begin”.
“They come out on October 12 to celebrate Columbus Day, Spain Day. They could not have another day, because October 12, for all of America, especially for our America, is the day that genocide, extermination, slavery and colonialism began. It is not a day to celebrate, nor the day of Spain, nor the day of nothing. It is the day of blood, of death, of slavery, he declared.
Maduro, during an event at the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC) located in the state of Miranda, emphasized that on the contrary, for Latin Americans it is the “day of resistance, of life over death, freedom over slavery”, on the republican idea of monarchy”.
“The Spanish Empire brought the very modern and respected institution of Human Rights. The Spanish Empire, which always respected Human Rights, brought slaves from Africa. Applause to the Empire Spanish for having created slavery,” he quipped. Furthermore, recalled that the “superb” King Felipe VI “did not want to ask for forgiveness” in Mexicoafter the former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, requested it.
Spain’s refusal to apologize for the conquest of America recently caused controversy with Mexico, as the monarch was not invited to the inauguration of Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum. It is for this reason that the government refused to send a delegation to the event. However, Mexico’s new foreign minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, said bilateral relations “continue,” according to reports Europe Press.
