The recent visit to Mexico by the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, in early May reignited the debate surrounding Hernán Cortés. According to elfinanciero.com.mx, the conquistador's sudden return to the public agenda sparked political reactions, including remarks from President Claudia Sheinbaum, yet left a gap in understanding how modern citizens actually perceive the historical figure.
To gauge public sentiment, the outlet conducted a national survey shortly after Díaz Ayuso’s trip. The results show that Cortés remains a divisive figure: 33 percent of respondents expressed a favorable opinion, while 43 percent held an unfavorable one. Eight percent remained neutral, and 16 percent admitted they were unfamiliar with the figure.
Although the initial expectation was to find widespread rejection—given the historical narrative championed by the current administration—the data suggests the divide is less polarized than anticipated. In contrast, figures such as Cuauhtémoc and Moctezuma received significantly higher approval ratings, with 62 and 58 percent positive opinions, respectively.
A generational gap, not just ideology
The study analyzed whether these perceptions are linked to political leanings. While Cortés and La Malinche enjoy slightly more support among right-leaning sectors, the gap is not as pronounced as expected. In fact, while Morena supporters show strong backing for the Mexica tlatoanis, acceptance of Cortés is remarkably similar among voters from both the PAN and the PRI.
The real fracture appears to be generational rather than ideological. Younger generations report a more favorable view of the conquistador than older groups. Among Gen Z, the net opinion of Cortés is positive, while among millennials, the results are evenly split. Conversely, Gen X and Baby Boomers maintain a negative view.
These results suggest that political discourse regarding the Conquest has a varied impact depending on the age of the citizen. In this regard, the report notes: "It seems that when Ayuso came to speak about Cortés, she wasn't speaking so much to the opposition on the right, but rather to young Mexicans."
