Felipe VI: “We hope that Brazil plays a very active international role”

The king of Spain, Felipe VIwho heads the Spanish delegation at the investiture of the Brazilian president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvawhich is celebrated this Sunday, hopes that Brazil have a “very active” international role.

“We expect Brazil to play a very active international role”, said the Spanish head of state, in a meeting with a representation of the Spanish community at the embassy in Brasilia.

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Felipe VI arrived in the Brazilian capital together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to witness the inauguration of the progressive leader, who will assume his third term, after having governed for two consecutive periods between 2003 and 2010.

BRASILIA (BRAZIL), 01/01/2023.- The King of Spain, Felipe VI (d), who heads the Spanish delegation at the investiture of The King of Spain, Felipe VI, heads the Spanish delegation at the investiture of the president-elect Brazilian, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which is celebrated on January 1, 2023. (Photo by EFE/José Jiménez/Casa Real) (JOSE JIMENEZ/)

Both were received at the airport by personnel from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and by the Vice President and Minister of Labor of Spain, Yolanda Díaz, who had arrived on Friday night.

The king valued the relationship between Brazil and Spain for both “the historical trajectory”, as for the “common interests” Y “shared” of both nations, and affirmed that the South American country is experiencing a “moment of change”.

“And of course give all the emphasis to all the joint themes” in which both countries have “mutual interest, both on this side of the Atlantic, as well as in Europe and other parts of the world”, he expressed.

The King of Spain, Felipe VI, leads the Spanish delegation at the inauguration of the Brazilian president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which takes place on January 1, 2023. (Photo by EFE/José Jiménez/Casa Real) (JOSE JIMENEZ /)

Twenty heads of state and government will attend Lula’s inauguration, including the leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Germany and Portugal.

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This visit is the first of Felipe VI to Brazil since he replaced Juan Carlos I on the throne in June 2014.

The previous one had been in 2011, when he attended as Prince of Asturias the investiture of Dilma Rousseff, who succeeded Lula after being president between 2003 and 2010.

Twenty years ago today, I had also been in Brasilia on January 1, 2003, when Lula assumed power in his first term.

Source: Elcomercio