Politics · Latin America

La polémica frase de Alberto Fernández sobre los mexicanos, los brasileños y los barcos de Europa

Alberto Fernández and the controversial remark about Mexicans, Brazilians and ships from Europe

C116 minArticle reviewed

Original article date: June 10, 2021 · Guide updated: September 9, 2026 · Source: LA NACION

Before you open the article

This preparation gives you the story context, essential vocabulary, useful expressions and reading questions. Study it first, then open the original news article, which is written in Spanish.

Start preparing with vocabulary ↓

What this article is about

During a 2021 visit by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, Argentine president Alberto Fernández made a controversial remark contrasting the supposed origins of Mexicans, Brazilians and Argentines. Fernández attributed the idea to Mexican writer Octavio Paz, but LA NACION noted that his wording did not match the phrase commonly attributed to Paz and was closer to lyrics by Argentine musician Litto Nebbia.

Background you need

The remark became a social-media controversy because it reduced complex Latin American societies to racialized and geographic stereotypes while presenting Argentina as primarily descended from European immigration. The episode also occurred in a diplomatic and economic setting: Sánchez was visiting Buenos Aires, publicly supporting Argentina in its debt negotiations with the IMF and the Paris Club and discussing Spanish investment. For learners, the article is useful for distinguishing direct quotation, attribution, correction and contextual reporting.

Editorial illustration for Alberto Fernández: “Los mexicanos salieron de los indios, los brasileños salieron de la selva, pero nosotros, los argentinos, llegamos en los barcos de Europa” — Editorial illustration · Spanish News for Learners

Key vocabulary

Essential vocabulary

The example sentences below were written for language practice; they are not quotations from the source.

Open the Spanish article ↗

hacer alusión ato allude to / refer to

A formal expression meaning to make an indirect or explicit reference to something.

El Presidente hizo alusión a una frase que atribuyó a Octavio Paz.

The President referred to a phrase that he attributed to Octavio Paz.

atribuidaattributed

Used when a statement or idea is said to come from a particular person, without necessarily proving authorship.

La nota habla de una frase atribuida al escritor mexicano.

The article speaks of a phrase attributed to the Mexican writer.

equívocomistaken / misleading / ambiguous

A formal adjective used when something is incorrect or open to a misleading interpretation.

El diario señaló que el resultado de la cita fue equívoco.

The newspaper noted that the result of the quotation was mistaken or misleading.

europeístapro-European

A person or position that emphasizes identification with or support for Europe.

Fernández se declaró europeísta durante su intervención.

Fernández described himself as pro-European during his remarks.

descender deto descend from

Used to describe ancestry or origin.

La frase atribuida a Paz hablaba de pueblos que descienden de distintas raíces históricas.

The phrase attributed to Paz spoke of peoples descending from different historical roots.

convertirse en tendenciato become a trending topic

A common expression in digital-news language for a subject that becomes widely discussed online.

La frase se convirtió en tendencia en las redes sociales.

The remark became a trending topic on social media.

respaldosupport / backing

Formal political vocabulary for public or institutional support.

Fernández agradeció a Sánchez el respaldo de su gobierno.

Fernández thanked Sánchez for his government's support.

renegociaciónrenegotiation

The process of negotiating again the terms of an existing agreement or debt.

La reunión también trató la renegociación de la deuda argentina.

The meeting also addressed the renegotiation of Argentina's debt.

inversióninvestment

Money or resources committed with the expectation of economic activity or future returns.

Fernández elogió la inversión española en Argentina.

Fernández praised Spanish investment in Argentina.

generar trabajoto create jobs / employment

A frequent political and economic expression referring to employment creation.

El Presidente afirmó que la inversión puede generar trabajo y producción.

The President said investment can create jobs and production.

Useful expressions

Expressions

distar de— to be far from / differ considerably from

La nota explica que la frase atribuida a Paz dista de la versión pronunciada por Fernández.

convertirse en tendencia— to become a trending topic

La declaración se convirtió rápidamente en tendencia en las redes.

estar al lado de— to stand by / support

Pedro Sánchez afirmó que España estaría al lado de Argentina en sus conversaciones financieras.

Language focus

Attribution with según / atribuir a

News reporting uses attribution to separate what a speaker claims from what the journalist can establish. This is especially important here because Fernández named Octavio Paz as the source of the phrase.

Fernández mencionó, según dijo, una cita de Octavio Paz.

Direct quotation versus paraphrase

Spanish news articles often combine quoted words with explanatory paraphrase. Readers should distinguish the exact words spoken from the journalist's summary and correction.

El Presidente pronunció una frase y el artículo luego explicó que no coincidía con la cita atribuida a Paz.

Contrast with pero / no obstante

Contrast markers are central to this article because the report first presents Fernández's attribution and then qualifies or corrects it.

Fernández atribuyó la frase a Paz; no obstante, la versión citada por el diario era diferente.

Before you read

Questions to keep in mind

What did Alberto Fernández claim about the origins of Mexicans, Brazilians and Argentines?
To whom did he attribute the idea, and why does the source of the quotation matter?
What diplomatic event was taking place when he made the remark?

Continue with the original

Now read the news in Spanish

You have prepared the main context and language. The button opens the publisher’s original Spanish-language article in a new tab.

Open the original article in Spanish →

After reading

Reflect on what you read

How did LA NACION distinguish Fernández's wording from the phrase commonly attributed to Octavio Paz?
Why did the statement provoke controversy on social media?
What economic and diplomatic issues were Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Fernández discussing during the same visit?