The king of Spain told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “shut up” Saturday during a heated exchange at a summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

Chavez triggered the exchange by repeatedly referring to former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar as a “fascist” in a speech at the Ibero-American summit in Santiago, Chile.

Spain’s current socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, responded during his own allotted time by urging Chavez to be more diplomatic in his words and respect other leaders despite political differences.

Mr. Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt the Spanish leader, but his microphone was turned off. It was at that point that King Juan Carlos, seated a few meters away, leaned forward and said directly to Chavez, “Why do you not shut up?”

I think the King of Spain asked the question that many people around the world have been wanting to ask Hugo Chavez for years.