King Felipe VI of Spain has faced criticism from some politicians in Spain for choosing not to stand up when a sword belonging to a famous rebel against his country’s rule was paraded in front of him.
The King of Spain kept his seat when a sword belonging to Simon Bolivar was brought into a ceremony marking the inauguration of the new President of Colombia.
Other dignitaries attending the event for the start of the tenure of Gustavo Petro rose as the sword was carried before them in a glass box. Felipe VI remained sitting and didn’t join in the applause that broke out as the parade continued.
Simon Bolivar’s military and political battles against Spanish rule in South America in the 19th century led to independence for large parts of the continent. He is now known as ‘The Liberator’ for his role in the ending of Spain’s colonial power.
The weapon brought into the ceremony is known as ”the Sword of the Liberator”. Bolivar is said to have sheathed the sword once independence had been won, saying it should not be unsheathed as Colombia, among other countries, now had peace. It was stolen by the M-19 guerrilla group from a museum in 1974 and returned to the government in 1990. President Petro, now 62, was once a member of that group.
The decision to include the sword in the inauguration actually delayed the ceremony’s start. There had been no plans for it to be paraded but Gustavo Petro decided his first decree as president should be for it to be brought out.
However, a partner in the socialist alliance now governing Spain has been critical of King Felipe’s decision not to stand as it was brought into the ceremony. Podemos, which is anti monarchy and has often demanded a referendum on removing the king as Head of State, is now demanding King Felipe say sorry for remaining seated.
Its group leader, Ione Belarra, has demanded King Felipe apologise while the party’s official spokesperson, Pablo Echenique, took to Twitter to call for a republic.
Echenique said ”the king cannot do whatever he wants. His actions must be endorsed by the government. That is why we are going to ask the foreign ministry whether the disrespectful actions of Felipe VI in Colombia were approved or not. I hope that soon Spain will be represented by a president…voted for by citizens.”
However, diplomats have confirmed to the newspaper El Pais that the decision to include the sword in the ceremony wasn’t known about in advance and no decision was taken about how to deal with its appearance beforehand.
The Spanish Royal Household has made no comment.
King Felipe had earlier held several meetings with Colombian officials and an audience with the president elect. He also met members of the Spanish community living in Bogota.
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