The regional minister for Economy, Finance, and Employment of the Community of Madrid declared that the "pressures were clear" and that, until the day before, the participation of the Madrid president in the Platino Awards gala was confirmed in the official schedule of the event.
“"The pressures have been clear."
According to the minister, business owners and cultural promoters feel "subjected to fear" in places "where freedom does not prevail." She accused the Mexican Executive of having "curtailed" the possibility for the Madrid president to promote tourism, Ibero-American cinema, and economic relations between Mexico and Madrid.
The institutional and economic nature of the trip has been defended by the minister against criticism from the Madrid opposition, which questioned its political objectives. During the stay in Mexico, the Madrid delegation visited three states and participated in meetings focused on investments and tourism.
Among the achievements of the trip, the minister highlighted the confirmation of a 77 million euro investment in the Community of Madrid by a company. She emphasized the importance of these trips in conveying "legal certainty and confidence" to potential international investors.
The Madrid president decided to "suspend the third part" of her institutional trip and return to Madrid after denouncing an alleged "boycott climate" promoted by the Mexican Government. Sources from the regional Executive stated that the Mexican Government had threatened to sabotage the Platino Awards gala if the president attended, which led her to not participate "so as not to harm business owners".
