Íñigo Méndez de Vigo asserts that the international projection of the Spanish language and the wealth of our literary heritage are priorities of this term of office

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo highlighted that "this prize is vindication of the value of Jorge Manrique, a reminder of the cultural wealth of Palencia, recognition of the quality and sensitivity of contemporary poets such as Mercedes and, in short, a great celebration of Spanish literature and culture of which we can all feel proud".

In this regard, he also referred in his speech to the project that the President of the Government will present on Wednesday, 24 January at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. This is a "project based on our common language and culture that the government has taken on as a State affair, a priority for this term of office, and which spans both the international projection of the Spanish language and the wealth of the literary heritage that our nation has been able to boast of down the ages", he announced.

Aesthetic benevolence and poetic honesty of Mercedes Carrión, the first Jorge Manrique prize-winner

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo recalled that the jury awarded the prize to Mercedes Carrión for her aesthetic benevolence, poetic honesty and her ability to provoke emotions from her work and "nothing seems more appropriate to me in respect of a prize inspired in the importance of the works of Jorge Manrique. We can also find these three characteristics in "las Coplas", an eternal poem that one never tires of turning to, with the avidity of those who find new emotions, undertones and sensations time and time again".

A flattering prize for Spanish poetry

The minister welcomed the fact that Spain finally has a great poetry prize that bears the name of Jorge Manrique and more so that this is held in the land where he was born. "Jorge Manrique is a lifetime literary companion", he said, and pointed out that "the words make the author and the reader live many lives in just one, as can be seen in the slogan of the current Plan to Foster Reading of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport - "Reading gives you extra lives".

"Two goals are achieved by creating this 1st Jorge Manrique International Poetry Prize: on the one hand this pays tribute to the poet from Palencia who was the author of "las Coplas", a treasure of universal literature and the standard bearer of Spanish arts in the 15th Century and, on the other hand, this means that this exalted period of Spanish poetry can live on today through our current authors".

Non official translation