Hernán 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 most serene Isabel Díaz Ayuso has said some words that painfully challenge us. She said them after the Mexican government –incomprehensibly– failed to understand her fervent praise for Hernán Cortés. "We had to disappear. We were in danger," she murmured, on her return to the capital of the motherland.

I'm not one of those who would remove Columbus's statue from the end of La Rambla, because I love folklore. Columbus and the Asland cement factory are my two favorite monuments in the province of Barcelona. I also like the black towers of La Caixa, a lot, but for other, more romantic reasons. I'd like to get lost there...