The king of Spain, Philip VIfulfilled the traditional participation of the Spanish Crown in the presidential investiture ceremonies in Latin America and accompanied Keiko Fujimori in the official activities for her proclamation as the new president of Peru. Between July 27 and 28, the monarch had an intense agenda that included meetings with authorities and representatives of the Spanish community, as well as a tour of the historic center of our capital.
This is the second inauguration of a Peruvian ruler attended by Felipe VI. He also attended Pedro Castillo’s, on July 28, 2021. Before his proclamation as king, still as prince of Asturias, he participated in the inauguration ceremonies of Alejandro Toledo (2001), Alan García (2006) and Ollanta Humala (2011).
On this occasion, the king landed at 8:30 am on Monday the 27th in Air Group No. 8 (Armando Revoredo Iglesias Air Base), where he was received by the until then Chancellor Carlos Pareja. In addition to Felipe VI, the Spanish delegation was headed by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Eva Granados. They were received by a cordon of honor made up of cadets from the Peruvian Air Force.
Felipe VI was received by Foreign Minister Carlos Pareja and Mario Contreras, General Commander of the FAP. Photo: House of HM the King
The king began his activities with a meeting with representatives of the Spanish community in Peru, including directors of Spanish companies, representatives of the cultural world, workers from the Cultural Center and Spanish officials from international organizations. The King spoke with all sectors during the reception, which took place in the gardens of the ambassador’s residence located in Barranco between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.
In the afternoon, Felipe VI met for 40 minutes with the then president of Peru, José María Balcázar, at the Government Palace, in the heart of the historic center of Lima. At the end of the event, the Marshal Domingo Nieto regiment paid honors to the Spanish monarch before his departure from the Executive headquarters. From there he traveled on foot to the Torre Tagle Palace to hold his first Keiko Fujimori meeting. During the walk, in which he was accompanied by Chancellor Carlos Pareja, law enforcement officers and his own security team, he kindly greeted the citizens present.
The king was the first representative of the international delegations to meet with Keiko Fujimori within the framework of the presidential investiture agenda. According to the Office of the then president-elect, at the meeting “they reaffirmed the ties of friendship between both countries, as well as their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation for the benefit between Peru and Spain.”
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- According to the Spanish Royal House, the current monarch assumed the representation of his country in the Ceremonies of Transmission of the Presidential Command of the Ibero-American Heads of State since 1996.
- With his visit to Peru, Felipe VI will have attended 23 inaugurations since his proclamation and, predictably, he will attend next August the inauguration of the new president of Colombia, Abelardo De la Espriella.
The official social networks of the Royal Family of Spain also reported on the meeting and shared photos in which the leaders are seen smiling and shaking hands. The incoming Foreign Minister Carlos Espá also attended the meeting.
At 8:00 pm, Felipe VI returned to the Government Palace to participate in the gala dinner offered by José María Balcázar to the heads of State and Government. Among the leaders present at the meeting were the Bolivian Rodrigo Paz, the Chilean José Antonio Kast, the Paraguayan Santiago Peña and the Uruguayan Yamandú Orsi.
On Tuesday the 28th, the king began his second day in Peru with a bilateral meeting with the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña. At the meeting, held at the Torre Tagle Palace, both leaders analyzed global challenges and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between both countries, according to the press of the South American country. Likewise, they defined work points for the next Ibero-American Summit.
Subsequently, the monarch went to the Congress Museum where he met the rest of the heads of State and Government, with whom he then went to Congress for the investiture of Keiko Fujimori.
As part of the protocol, the international leaders saluted the flag of the Peruvian military formation and reviewed the military formation before being dismissed by the commanding officer. After that, they were received at the foot of the stairs by the reception committee to enter the chamber, where the acts of honor were carried out and the message to the nation from the new president of Peru took place.
At the end of the events in Congress, the king and the other authorities and invited delegations went to the Government Palace where they participated in an official lunch offered by the new president. Felipe VI left Peru after that activity.
The King of Spain, Felipe VI, and leaders of countries such as José Antonio Kast, Santiago Peña and Rodrigo Paz walk through the center of Lima. (Photo: GEC)
As monarch, Felipe VI has made three visits to Peru, including the current one. The monarch and Queen Letizia made a state trip to our country from November 12 to 14, 2018 with Martín Vizcarra as president.
The king also attended the 10th International Congress of the Spanish Language (CILE) that was held in Arequipa between October 14 and 16, 2015, during the presidency of José Jerí.
The website of the Royal Family also highlights that before the proclamation, the Princes of Asturias made an official trip to Peru, under the presidency of Alan García, in November 2010, fulfilling an agenda to promote bilateral and commercial relations between both countries.
