The Diplomat
Mexico’s new ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz, yesterday delivered his Copies of Letters of Credence to the Head of Protocol, María Sebastián de Erice, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“As of this, in adherence to the norm, the head of mission is considered to have assumed his functions in the receiving State, prior to the delivery of credential letters to the King,” Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated through its Twitter account.
Mexico’s new ambassador arrived in Madrid on April 11 to head the diplomatic representation, seven months after being nominated by the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and after having been ratified by the Senate of the Ibero-American country.
According to the Mexican Embassy on its Twitter account, Quirino Ordaz arrived in Spain “with the mandate of the President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and the Mexican Senate to deepen and strengthen relations between both nations”. This reference to “deepening and strengthening bilateral relations” came two months after the Mexican president proposed a “pause” in relations with Spain to turn the page on a period in which, in his opinion, Spanish authorities and companies took advantage of his country.
With these words, López Obrador provoked a new crisis in the relationship with Spain, which he tried to redirect by sending the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to Mexico City. The words of the Mexican president caused surprise and discomfort in Spain because they came days after the Government had granted the approval to appoint Quirino Ordaz as ambassador in Madrid. The decision of the Executive of Pedro Sánchez had been delayed more than is normal between two countries with so many ties, in a sign of Spanish anger at López Obrador’s continuous verbal attacks on Spain, demanding forgiveness for the conquest of five centuries ago.
