A true statesman
Spain is in mourning. We have lost one of our best politicians. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba. Perhaps this will mean very little, or nothing at all, to anyone outside this country. I mention it, however, because it isn't easy in this world of corrupt, over-confident, insensitive politicians who think more about flinging mud at the opposing parties, their principal interest being to keep themselves in power and giving scant thought to the problems and needs of their countrymen.
I think I can safely say that Rubalcaba was an exception. He was, by profession, a university professor of Chemistry, yet he dedicated a good twenty years of his life supporting the Spanish Socialist Party (the PSOE) where he held down a series of Ministries in the governments of Felipe González and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. As Minister of the Interior, he was instrumental in bringing peace to the Basque Country, afflicted for so many years by terrorism. He was also elected General Secretary of the Party for an eighteen month period. Those who knew him have said that he was exceptionally intelligent with an outstandingly agile mind, yet at the same time a loveable and approachable human being.
Thousands have bid him farewell today, filing past his coffin. His death was sudden, quite unexpected and he was young to die. Only 67. Yes, we have lost a true statesman.
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