The PP brings Hernán Cortés back to Extremadura

BarcelonaHernán Cortés is one of the great figures in the conquest of America. For some –especially the conquerors– he is responsible for the liberation of indigenous peoples, and for others –especially the indigenous– one of the architects of the genocide in the New Continent. And lately, he has become the figure that justifies a dialectical war between Mexico and the PP. Until now, it was the Madrid president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who had raised Cortés's flag against the criticisms of the Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. Now another regional president of the Popular Party is also joining her: María Guardiola has decided to bring Hernán Cortés back to his hometown, Medellín (Badajoz), with the help of one of Ayuso's usual partners, the musician Nacho Cano.A few days ago, the president of Extremadura announced that she is launching the new International Institute of Mestizaje, named Extremestiza, a brand that the regional government has promoted to highlight the cultural, human, and economic ties with the Ibero-American community. According to Guardiola, her government's intention is to make Extremadura "an international reference in the study and dissemination of mestizaje and a bridge between America and Europe." Next to her, Cano did not mince words when praising the initiative and defending the figure of the conqueror to the hilt, openly criticizing their "demonization": "Mexico exists because there is Cortés," said the former Mecano member, who launched another barb at the Mexican president. "Ms. Sheinbaum, I respect you and have never spoken ill of you. Please, apologize to Ms. Ayuso, because we in Spain have never treated a Mexican president so badly," she said, referring to the tensions arising from the recent institutional visit of the Madrid president to Mexico.recent institutional visit of the Madrid president to Mexico.Guardiola also took advantage of this to make a strong defense of Hernán Cortés, assuring that many "falsehoods" have been poured over his historical figure. "Neither America nor Mexico would be what they are today without his mark and his legacy," he said, and he branded the criticisms surrounding the figure of the conqueror as "sensationalism and excuses.

The Extremaduran 'beach bar'

As was foreseeable, an announcement of these characteristics has set social networks boiling, full of criticism and satire. A good part of the users have pointed out the political paradox that it implies that the same regional government of the PP, which agreed on "national priority" with the far-right Vox, now promotes an institution dedicated to cultural mixing. "Miscegenation and national priority. Propaganda of neo-national-catholicism has an important mental muddle," said one netizen. Others poked at this ideological duality: "Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, national priority. Tuesdays and Thursdays, miscegenation".

Many citizens have also not been able to avoid comparing the institute with the so-called Office of the Spanish Language that Ayuso created for the former Citizens' deputy Toni Cantó: "From the creators of the Office of the Spanish Language in Madrid, the Institute of Mestizaje now arrives in Badajoz", tweeted the magazine Mongolia. Finally, indignation over the use of public funds has been mixed with the denunciation of political favoritism with Nacho Cano: "It's great that the PP is good at paying for services rendered to its lickspittles", said the magazine. "In Extremadura there are no beaches but there are "}chiringuitos", concluded the spokesperson for Podemos, Pablo Fernández.