Lima (EFE).– The King of Spain, Felipe VI, met this Monday with the president-elect of Peru, the right-wing Keiko Fujimori, on the day before the presidential inauguration that will be held on Tuesday, and they committed to strengthening the bilateral relationship between both countries.
“President-elect Keiko Fujimori held a meeting with His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, in which they reaffirmed the ties of friendship between both countries, as well as their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation for the benefit of Peru and Spain,” the president-elect’s office reported on social media.
Similarly, the Spanish Royal Household also published images of the meeting on social media, which took place at the Torre Tagle Palace, the headquarters of the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, located in the historic center of the capital.
The Spanish head of state arrived in Lima this Monday morning and was received by the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Pareja, and by the Peruvian ambassador to Spain, Alejandro Abellán García de Diego, in a brief protocol ceremony in which no statements were made.
Before meeting with Fujimori, Felipe VI held a meeting with representatives of the Spanish community in the Andean country and a meeting with the interim president, José María Balcázar, at the Government Palace.
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Meeting with the current president
Balcázar, who this Tuesday will hand over the presidential command of Peru to the president-elect, Keiko Fujimori, received the Spanish head of state at the Government Palace in Lima, a few hours after he arrived in the Peruvian capital to attend the inauguration ceremony.
“The presence of King Felipe VI at the transfer of supreme command reaffirms the closeness between Peru and Spain, as well as the strength of a relationship based on cooperation, dialogue, and shared democratic values,” the Executive stated.
Topics of common interest
The Peruvian Executive added that the meeting allowed for a review of the state of the bilateral relationship and to address matters of common interest. Some of the topics discussed were political dialogue, trade, investments, development cooperation, and the joint fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.
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“The meeting also allowed for the recognition of the role of the Peruvian community residing in Spain, made up of approximately half a million people, as a human, social, and cultural bridge between both nations,” it added to the information disseminated.
Likewise, both authorities highlighted the importance of advancing the signing of the agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion. This instrument will contribute to promoting new investments and strengthening economic ties.
Keiko’s investiture
Felipe VI arrived this Monday and was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Pareja, and the Ambassador of Peru to Spain, Alejandro Abellán García de Diego, at the steps of the aircraft in which he traveled. The officials held a brief protocol ceremony in which no statements were issued.
Felipe VI attends a presidential inauguration in Peru for the second time since he was proclaimed king, after witnessing Pedro Castillo’s in 2021.
With the inauguration of Keiko Fujimori, elected president of Peru by a narrow margin of less than 50,000 votes, Fujimorism will return to the government. Twenty-six years ago, her father, Alberto Fujimori, resigned amidst a massive corruption scandal, after which he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity, among other charges.
