The King: “In these difficult times, Spain keeps Nicaragua in its heart.”

Don Felipe presents the Cervantes Prize to Sergio Ramírez, the man whose “story could have been different.” Don Sergio, in these difficult times, Spain keeps Nicaragua in its heart.

These were the first words said by the King this Monday to the Nicaraguan writer before presenting him with the Cervantes Prize in the auditorium of the University of Alcalá de Henares.

King Felipe thus alluded to the difficult situation the Latin American country is experiencing, where approximately 30 people have lost their lives during the demonstrations against a social welfare reform which has since been withdrawn. The award winner himself participated last Sunday in the demonstrations held in Madrid against this reform, and this morning he dedicated the prize to the memory of those Nicaraguans who “were murdered in the streets.” Ramírez, who was a Sandinista leader and Vice-President in the Daniel Ortega government from 1985 to 1990, has since distanced himself from Sandinista ideology, and in his current position has become critical of it. See the full speech of Sergio Ramírez here.

Read the full article: ABC Cultura 

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