Ayotzinapa Case / Tensions with Spain

Ayotzinapa Case. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged that he did not fulfill his campaign promise to fully resolve the Ayotzinapa case. While he emphasized that he “worked on it all the time” and made progress, he admitted that the outcome was not as he had hoped.

He stressed that the Ayotzinapa case remains open and will continue under the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, highlighting that “several previously unknown facts were clarified.”

López Obrador also confirmed that on the 10th anniversary of the students’ disappearance, he sent a letter to the families of the missing students, reaffirming his commitment to continue seeking justice.

Tensions with Spain. President López Obrador expressed his support for Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision to invite only Pedro Sánchez, President of Spain, to her presidential inauguration, a request that was declined due to the absence of an invitation to King Felipe VI. This decision stems from Spain’s lack of response since 2019 to a request for an apology for the Spanish invasion of Mexico. 

López Obrador added that the disagreement is with the Spanish monarchy, not the Spanish people. His administration had previously asked for an apology for atrocities committed against indigenous people in Mexico. López Obrador said that instead of responding, the letter was leaked, leading to a campaign against the Mexican government. 

Calica Case. López Obrador stated that his administration had previously sought to reach an agreement with Vulcan Materials to purchase its land in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. An appraisal was conducted, but the situation has not advanced. López Obrador said that there would not be an expropriation, but that the land was declared a protected natural area. He also questioned Vulcan Materials reasons to operate in Mexico, adding that the United States has territory and resources to extract materials.