Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, wife of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has requested Spanish nationality, confirmed the newspaper ABC. In one of the videos in which AMLO addressed this request, his wife also appears supporting his comments. López Obrador stated that the arrival of the Spaniards brought corruption, as there was no evidence of this in pre-Hispanic times. He expressed: “Mexico wishes for the Spanish state to acknowledge its historical responsibility for those offenses and offer apologies or political reparations as appropriate for the Conquest, an event that founded the Mexican nation but was violent, painful, and transgressive.”
In December 2022, AMLO mentioned that there was a 'pause' in Mexico-Spain relations due to a supposed 'disrespect' from the Spanish government. López Obrador claimed that they expected a gesture of humility from Spain, asking for apologies for the extermination, repression, and killings of indigenous peoples. Currently, the former president of Mexico is retired from public life at his estate in Palenque. For her part, Beatriz Gutiérrez is in the process of applying for Spanish citizenship through the democratic memory law, approved in 2022, which allows nationality for grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Spaniards.
Milton Merlo, a journalist from ABC Spain, stated in an interview that Gutiérrez appeared at the Spanish embassy to carry out the necessary procedures. Spanish authorities confirmed that she is availing herself of the democratic memory law promoted by President Pedro Sánchez. As for Gutiérrez's intentions, it is speculated that she may have academic motivations in Europe or that this could contribute to restoring relations between the two countries.
If Beatriz Gutiérrez obtains Spanish nationality, she will have to meet the usual requirements, including swearing respect to the crown and the Spanish Constitution. This fact is relevant since Gutiérrez was a critic of Spain and advocated for requesting apologies for the Spanish Conquest. In a previous video, she expressed her rejection of the idea that the arrival of the Spaniards had benefited Mexico.
During his term, López Obrador demanded apologies from Spain for the Conquest and sent letters to the King and Pope Francis requesting recognition of the grievances committed against indigenous peoples.
