King Juan Carlos, Chavez spat highjacks Ibero-American Summit

The words "why don't you shut up", uttered by King Juan Carlos of Spain aimed at Venezuela's Hugo Chavez captured the closing day of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State this past Saturday. The spat happened during the closing ceremonies of the 17th Summit of heads of state from Latin America and Iberian leaders.

The water had been stirred to a boil Thursday when Chavez during his opening remarks to the Summit, called former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a fascist. Chavez was complaining to a series of speeches Aznar had given calling the Venezuelan president a dictator.

Chavez charged Aznar not only supported the failed 2002 coup, but that he was informed of it ahead of time. Chavez pointed to a series of events that would link Aznar to the coup events. He said Aznar quickly recognized the short-lived 36-hour government led by businessman Pedro Carmona that had replaced Chavez. Aznar as the head of the European Union issued a communiqué supporting the new regime and, that the Spanish ambassador with the US ambassador were present during Carmona's swearing in of the coup government.

Following the Chavez speech, Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told Chavez in a private meeting that with respect things get done. Saturday's Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, told reporters at a news conference that he demands respect for Aznar because he was an elected by the Spanish people and he needs to be respected and not insulted.

During the closing ceremonies later that Saturday, Chavez repeated his words, charging Aznar again that he was a fascist. Rodriguez Zapatero demanded a reply from Summit hostess, Chile's president Michelle Bachelet. Rodriguez Zapatero again demanded respect and in respecting people, one gets respected back. Chavez interrupted Rodriguez Zapatero's reply a couple of times demanding that Aznar respects Venezuela and his government. It was during the second interruption that King Juan Carlos point first to Chavez, saying "you", before uttering his now famous "why don’t you shut up" comment.

Media Centre Eyes Glued to Exchange

Media eyes were glued and furiously taking notes of the Chavez Rodriguez Zapatero exchange. Those of us in the Media Centre paid little attention to the speeches given by the presidents, except for Bolivia's Evo Morales. However, when Chavez asked to speak, some of us knew he would respond to Rodriguez Zapatero's remarks that morning. Chavez did indeed getting the full attention of the media, then it would be only time before Rodriguez Zapatero would ask for a reply. We in the media were glued to the close circuit TV signal; it was during that moment that King Juan Carlos told Chavez to shut up.

King Juan Carlos to leave

Soon after King Juan Carlos leaves the round table, quickly the speculation among reporters was he was leaving the Summit. Many of us ran from the Media Centre building to the parking area, where the King's car and his security moved into place. But after about half an hour of waiting we are told the King is back at his place inside the Summit.

Spanish Government Discriminates non-Spaniard media

When the Summit concluded the Spanish media is called to an open but restricted area to hear a statement from Rodriguez Zapatero. We told the Spanish officials it would send a negative image of Spain if the rest of the media captures the Rodriguez Zapatero from a distance held from the prime minister by a police barriers. Our demands forced the Spanish officials to let us into the area with the Spanish media with the agreement no questions were to be asked. The agreement was respected.

Later Venezuela's Chavez gave his take on events to the scrum of reporters taking and responding to questions, saying a King a nonelected person would not tell an elected Head of State to shut up.

Summit Goals Clouded by Spat

The Summit objective of building social cohesion that responds to the social needs of the population, in health care, education and pensions was lost in the King Juan Carlos-Chavez shouting match. But it is clear the Summit accomplished an important first step that commits the governments to improve social delivery of public services funded by a growing State presence. The 24 points agreed here in Santiago, will be monitored with outcomes and benchmarks to be developed by the Ibero-American General Secretariat.

International Media

Aside from the media present from Ibero-American countries participating in this Summit, and agencies like Reuters, AP and Xinhua, the rest of the world media, particularly the English speaking media was absent from the Summit, it only reported the King Juan Carlos Chavez spat ignoring the undercurrent of ideas that are questioning free market policies, leaders here are demanding and using the greater presence of the State in the delivery of essential services and greater checks and balance to the market. The English speaking media is largely unaware that most governments present here at the Ibero-American Summit are questioning the foundations of the so-called "Washington consensus" opting instead to build either a road lead by Chavez or a middle of the road path favoured by country's like Chile.