Madrid (EFE)
The Patio de la Armería has been the setting where Don Felipe and Doña Letizia have received Petro and his wife, Verónica Alcocer, in a ceremony attended by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and representatives of the main State institutions .
Petro and the first lady have arrived at the palace aboard a Rolls Royce Phantom IV escorted by 70 horses from the Royal Escort Squadron.
After getting out of the vehicle, the two couples greeted each other cordially and exchanged a few first words.
They then posed before the graphic media before going to the box, located in front of the main façade of the palace, to listen to the national anthems and salutes of honor.
The official reception was completed with the review of the honorary company of the Royal Guard by the two Heads of State, the greeting to the authorities and a military parade of the garrisons that have participated in the ceremony.
Petro will deliver a speech in Congress
After the welcome, which was joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the four who are part of the Colombian delegation -Foreign Relations, Mines, Education and Trade-, Petro will deliver a speech in Congress in a joint session of deputies and senators.
Vox will not be present in the chamber, considering the first left-wing president of Colombia a “totalitarian” leader who represents “an obstacle to freedom and the development of human rights” in his country.
Its leader, Santiago Abascal, has also censured him for comments he made on the eve of flying to Madrid about Colombia’s colonial past when it was under Spanish rule and his praise for those who fought for independence.
A visit to strengthen bilateral relations
From the Congress, Petro is going to go to the Palacio de la Zarzuela to meet Felipe VI, who will then offer him a lunch at which the queen and Alcocer will also be present.
At night, the two couples will meet again at the Royal Palace for the gala dinner.
Petro, who is staying at the El Pardo Palace, reserved for heads of state on top-level visits, arrived in Madrid on Tuesday, and in the afternoon he opened his agenda with his visit to a fair for Colombian entrepreneurs.
His trip aims to strengthen the political, economic and commercial relationship and discuss issues such as the process promoted by the Government of the Andean country to achieve peace with the guerrilla groups that are still active.
Petro’s presence in Madrid is also marked by the conference on the political process in Venezuela organized by Colombia to try to redirect the relationship between its president, Nicolás Maduro, and the opposition.