Short Biography on Presidente Zapatero

[Quetzal]

Short Biography on Presidente Zapatero

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

Born: Valladolid, Spain, August 4, 1960.

Holds a degree in Law. He is Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of León.

Member of the PSOE since 1979. He was General Secretary of the Socialist Federation of León and has served on the PSOE Federal Committee. At the XXXIV PSOE Congress he was elected to the Federal Executive Committee.

In 1986 he was elected member of Parliament for León. During that Term he served on the Justice, Ombudsman, and Constitutional Committees and as Speaker on the following Laws: The Function of Public Statistics, Demarcation of Court Jurisdictions, and Political Party Funding.

Re-elected member of Parliament in 1989, 1993, 1996 and 2000, and has also served as Spokesperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Public Administrations.

General Secretary of the PSOE, elected at its 35th Federal Congress held in July, 2000.

Vice-President of the Socialist International, elected on October 29, 2003 during the XXII Congress of the Socialist International. Sao Paulo (Brasil).

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His Speech in Bibao, Spain

Campaign Speech by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (Mods...this is not copyrighted)

Thank-you brother....Thank-you, thank-you very much. You have heard me say on more than one occasion that in order to win, we have to deserve to win, and if we deserve to win on March 14th it was due to people like those who are here today, to the Basque Socialists and it is for them, above all, for them, that I am going to win on March 14th.

There are so many people who deserve this victory, people who will build a nation of peaceful coexistence, a solidary, open and progressive nation, and with your permission I would like to mention one such person, people like Eduardo Madina. I want to ask you all, appeal to all of us to engrave on our memory and in our awareness as a party, as people who have done so, so much for Euskadi and for Spain in general, as I say, engrave indelibly in our awareness the stature and the dignity of one person, of a young man like Eduardo Madina. And let me tell you why. Because even after being a victim of terrorism, a victim of terrorism, he remains humble and generous. That is the greatest commitment, the greatest lesson that Eduardo Madina has taught this country, and one that has made us feel very proud of so many other socialists.

Brothers and sisters, I am here today in Bilbao to publicly state my commitment to the fight against terrorism. The first duty of any democratic Government is to guarantee freedom, to guarantee the rights of its citizens, and for that reason, my number one commitment, if the Spanish people give me their vote on March 14th, will be to rid us all of ETA, and do away with the terrorism and violence that have done so much to hurt Euskadi. That will be my first task, my first concern, and my foremost objective….and we will finish off ETA without compromise, because our freedom and democracy are not for sale and are not negotiable. We stand by these principles.

The second commitment I assume here, today is my promise that I will never, ever use the subject of terrorism for partisan purposes or to gain electoral advantage, I will never use terrorism as Prime Minister. Do you know where that phrase, about not using the subject of terrorism for partisan purpose is enshrined? It is enshrined in the Pact for Liberties and against Terrorism that I proposed and signed with the Popular Party, and is one that the Popular Party does not always honor as it should, if only bound by a sense of duty. That´s where you can find that phrase. And here and now, I tell you that I will honor that State level agreement until ETA no longer exists, something that will happen sooner, rather than later.

The third commitment is that I will re-establish institutional relations with the Basque Government, and I will do so to reenlist the Basque Government in the fight against violence and against ETA, and pull together all the efforts of the Police, Civil Guard, the Ertzaintza, and unite the political efforts between the Basque Government and the Central Government, and I will do so by re-establishing institutional relations to which both Governments are bound by the Constitution and the Basque Country Autonomy Statute. For me, there will be no politicking or party bickering when what we need is to joint together all our forces, all our resources and our collective will to eliminate ETA. And I assure you, I assure you that we can do away with ETA during this next term, which is what the immense majority of the basque people want. They want to see an end to the violence and we must bring to bear all our unified forces to achieve this end. But take due note of this: I will re-establish relations with the Basque Government in institutional matters, but I will continue to say to the PNV and to the Basque Government that we will fiercely oppose the Ibarretxe Plan, and urge them to withdraw the Ibarretxe Plan, for the Basque Government to withdraw it, and that will open up a road to dialogue and peaceful coexistence in Euskadi. I oppose and will always oppose the Ibarretxe Plan because it generates a breakdown in peaceful coexistence, and because it does not respect the rules of democracy, modifies the Constitution and Statutes, because what it would do is destroy the Basque Country Statute, the statute that has historically guaranteed the coexistence, freedom, and mutual understanding of the Basque people, and wide ranging independence and right to self-governance that both I and the Euskadi Socialist Party are prepared to further, increase and expand, provided that it is done with respect for democracy, the Constitution and rule of law, because these are the guarantees provided by a democratic nation, a modern nation.

Therefore, yes to institutional dialogue from Government to Government dialogue to get rid of ETA. No to the Ibarretxe Plan because it divides Euskadi and heads it down a dead-end road, a path with no future. Gentlemen of the PNV, regain your sense of history, recover your will, and take back your democratic history to foster peaceful coexistence among the Basque people, and give hope to a Basque Country, to a Euskadi, that must have the hope in this next political term that the days of ETA are over, and also the hope of a lasting peaceful coexistence between nationalists and non-nationalists, protected under the Constitution and the Basque Country Autonomy Statute. That is what the immense majority hopes for and that is what we can begin to build after March 14 with an ample victory of the Socialist Party in Spain and in the Basque Country.

But I also want to make a fourth public commitment, I want to convene and unite all the democratic parties in the fight against ETA, to marshal all of our forces together. And for that, if the majority of Spanish citizens give us their vote of confidence, a Socialist government will convene all political groups in the Official Secrets Commission to inform them of progress in the fight against ETA, and to hear their suggestions on the best strategy to bring an end to the violence, which is what all the democratic parties must make their number one national goal. And that strategy has to be implemented as soon as possible, because ETA is now weaker, and because democracy has a great, historical opportunity that cannot be squandered. And now, I´d like to remind us all of Spain´s recent history. The great opportunities, the move from dictatorship to the transition and from there to freedom, the drafting of a democratic Constitution for all, the achievement of reconciliation, Spain´s entry in Europe, all the advances and progress achieved in this nation have come when its leadership had the will to lead by uniting, and jointing forces, and now it is our turn to unite all our efforts to put an end to ETA, to put an end to that lingering scourge. And this opportunity will be seized, as will all others, by all the democratic people of Spain. I want no one to be left out of this final battle to end ETA´s violence in the Basque Country and in all of Spain. This is an historic hour, and we must all be up to the challenge.

And my fifth public commitment today is the most important of all regarding the battle against terrorism and what it has meant to Spain: it is my commitment to the victims. Some of them are here with us today in this meeting, they and their family members, who have lived through the indignity, the insanity, the fanaticism, the blind violence, the injustice personally, who have suffered and continue to suffer in defense of the noble causes of liberty, the Constitution, democracy, peaceful coexistence…and so many victims. For me, all of those victims are equal, whatever their beliefs, social class or place of birth, they are all equal and we all owe them a never-ending debt of gratitude, and should honor them. Honor them, for their attitude, for what they represent -democracy-in the full knowledge that we can never fully repay that debt. And that is a knowledge that will abide with me every day and every minute that I govern Spain, if it is the will of the citizens for me to do so. And therefore, Eduardo, in your name, I address all of the victims to say that today I commit myself to win the battle against ETA once and for all. It will probably not be easy, but believe me when I say that we will do it, and in doing so will honor the memory of all the victims of terrorism.

These are therefore my solemn commitments. I want to vanquish ETA, and I will do it by strengthening the Antiterrorist Pact, I will reopen institutional dialogue with the Basque Government to fight the violence, I will call on all democratic political forces to join together to put an end to terrorism, and I will certainly always commemorate, recognize and enthusiastically support with the full force of Government: the honor, the memory and the dignity of all Spain´s victims of terrorism. This is the task that remains, this is the scourge that must be eradicated in Spain before we can truly live in democracy, truly exercise our liberties, it is the last remaining scourge and we must achieve this. In a democracy that we founded 25 years ago, by generously joining forces, writing a Constitution for all, and now, when we have just finished celebrating those 25 years of democracy, there appears to be a concern out there. Yester we saw a manifesto of intellectuals on the state of our democracy, and there are reasons for it, yesterday, even the Popular Party, even Mr. Rajoy began talking about democratic regeneration as one of the planks in his party´s platform. It is true that, if the governing Party speaks of the need to regenerate democracy, it begs the question of why, and of who has degenerated democracy in Spain in these past few years, gentlemen of the Popular Party.

And you already know that I practice politics in good faith, because I simply am incapable of doing otherwise. For that reason, I want to believe what Mr. Rajoy says about democratic regeneration, but I believe it would be a good idea if citizens saw at least one credible example. You have all seen that Mr. Aznar´s government is a big fan of laying foundation stones. They lay foundation stones all over, then half-way through the construction they declare it completed, they inaugurate what they haven´t finished. This is something that didn´t happen even in the ´bad old days´. Well, since they are so fond of laying the first stone, I´d like to suggest something to Mr. Rajoy: lay the cornerstone for the democratic regeneration that you promise by making Aznar appear before Parliament and talk about what´s happening in Iraq, something that concerns all Spaniards. Another possibility, Mr. Rajoy, for democratic regeneration, you mentioned investigation commissions. Assume the commitment before the Spanish people that there will be an investigative commission on weapons of mass destruction, because the citizens have the right to know if you were deceived, if you were lied to, as the immense majority of us believe. Regenerating democracy means transparency, it means truthful information, it means no more manipulation or lies by those in power, and here, some very serious, very grave things have occurred. While we see that in the United States Mr. Bush, and in the United Kingdom, Tony Blair are willing for there to be investigations into the truth or the lie behind why they came to be fighting a war that is costing thousands of lives of innocent victims, a toll that continues to rise, day after day, here in Spain, the Government in power that says it wants to bring about a regeneration of democracy refuses to appear before Parliament, and wants no part of any investigation, even when, by this time not even Mr. Urdaci believes this business about weapons of mass destruction.

But you have another opportunity, Mr. Rajoy, you have another opportunity to demonstrate you will to regenerate democracy, you have another possibility. Mr. Rajoy, give Mr. Aznar instructions, that is if he lets you, give Mr. Aznar instructions to make sure that between now and election day we have a minimally decent, democratic and pluralistic public television, and tell him to stop manipulating it as he does every single day with the newscasts. And I offer you one final possibility, Mr. Rajoy, so it can´t be said that we don´t offer ideas, I offer you a third possibility for you to set an example for democratic regeneration. Mr. Rajoy, let us hold a public televised debate, for all the Spanish people to see, which is what they want. I have suggested three possibilities for democratic regeneration, not for tomorrow, but for today, for today, at a point in the election campaign where the future, the course of this nation, is in play.

And, it is true that, since there are no debates, the PP and its leaders spend their time spewing out criticism and launching attacks on us. Our position on an issue is irrelevant to them, they always criticize us. You all heard Mr. Rato yesterday, as he launched a series of criticisms at me. Mr. Rato, it is a pity that Mr. Aznar did not designate you as the candidate. Truly a shame, because I am almost sure, having seen you in action in Parliament, that you, Mr. Rato, would dare to face me in debate, on television, before all the citizens of Spain. So, I do understand, Mr. Rato, that you are not in the best of moods about the designation falling elsewhere, and I understand that you have to play the role you play, but since you leapt into the fray and are so proud of your economic policy and of knowing so much about economic policy, I challenge you to debate any of the Socialist Party´s people in charge of economic policy and try to teach them a thing or two, prove something, and have a serious conversation about the prosperity that you invoked yesterday.

Prosperity, prosperity… as we all know, in Spain the ones who have prospered are the friends of the PP who have been hired by newly privatized companies, and who now have a great deal of power and reap huge benefits. Those are the ones who have prospered. Perhaps that is why Mr. Rato only sees prosperity when he looks around him. But what about the prosperity of the people working for the minimum inter-professional wage and have received raises below the level of inflation over these past years. What about the prosperity of so many young people with junk contracts, ten day contracts, with rock bottom salaries and no labor rights? What about the prosperity of millions of pensioners whose pensions are below the minimum inter-professional wage, is that the prosperity that the Popular Party is talking about, or is it the prosperity of the CEO´s of all the companies they have privatized? Is it, perhaps, the prosperity of all the young adults and families who cannot afford to by a home? Or maybe it is the prosperity of so many families who, just to buy a flat, --a small and of course, very expensive one-have to sign away their lives on a 25 or 30 year mortgage? That is the prosperity that the Popular Party talks about even as it has allowed rampant real estate speculation with huge profits for the speculators. Is it the prosperity of all the families, normal families, with average incomes, and of course those in lower income brackets and pensioners, who have watched as prices for the most basic and necessary items rise, day after day, while the Government turned its head, and finally, when it was too much for even them to ignore, they said it was due to the heat? No. The fault lies with the cold attitude of this Government toward the needs of the majority of families in this nation. It is not the heat, it is their coldness.

Brothers and sisters, we deserve a better Spain. We deserve a Spain that reopens its channels of communication with Europe, a Spain that works to unite Europe, a Spain that works alongside our natural partners, a Spain that takes back its own voice, national autonomy, and the sovereignty of its Government and tells the world what we think, and what we think is that we want no part of illegal wars and lies, we want peace and cooperation with the poorest nations of the world. That is what we think and what we want. We as a nation are not willing to give up our pride and dignity, not willing for our voice on world affairs to carry no weight, not willing to be a mere appendage of Mr. Bush. By the way, this time Spain is ahead of the Americans, we are going to win the elections here, and then Kerry is going to beat Bush in the U.S elections in November, and the course of international relations will change. We want Spain to be out there where the Spanish people want us: with Europe and Latin America, with the Mediterranean, with its own voice and building a world based on fair international relations, with nations united and working, Eduardo, to reach the o.7% of the GDP for developing countries and for people who are hungry, fearful, and in need, many of whom have to immigrate to Spain just to keep body and soul together.

We deserve a better Spain, with a Government that brings national cohesion, with a full understanding of who Spain is, of its diversity, its plurality, its wealth, greatness is being able to raise both the Basque Ikurriña and the flag of Spain, at the same time, with no confrontation, and no sidelong looks, but looking each other nobly in the eye, because we love both banners equally, because we feel in our heart of hearts that both are a part of our people, of the people of Euskadi, and the people of Spain. A government that says to all Spaniards that Basque, Catalonian, Galician languages of and for us all, because they are languages that enrich Spain and that Spain should defend, just as it defends Castilian Spanish, and that we can and should share our wealth, our diversity, and never use them for confrontation, never use what has come from the people who have built their identity, diversity, as a tool of confrontation, because they only enrich us and our future, the future of a nation that must govern itself in this way, that must govern by calling on its people to deeply feel and live by the principles enshrined in the Constitution, and not use the Constitution to divide us. A nation like Spain that has a shared project, and encourages people to feel good about themselves, while striving daily to integrate those furthest away. And my objective as Prime Minister will be to integrate the largest number possible of citizens in this shared feeling for Spain, a Spain that is respectful of diversity, respectful of Euskadi and supports self-rule and advancement for the Basque Country. That is what we will do if I am elected on March 14.

We deserve a better Spain, and that better Spain deserves a social policy that is committed to public education. Our future as a national, our economic potential, our ability to compete, will depend on education and research, and I say to you that, there once was a Socialist Government who did a great deal for education, did a service to this nation, because it made education available to all young people, it instituted universal and compulsory education up to 16 years of age and that is the one of the best things, that I remember about Felipe González, who was a great Prime Minister for Spain.

Today, we must make another historic leap in education. Yes, the right gets angry when I say this: I want deluxe, top of the line education in this country, top notch education that reaches out to all sectors of society and is a guarantee of equal opportunity, truly equal opportunity, and for our young people to be educate in the new technologies, fluently speak other languages, I want our young people to have the training they need, and above all, --and this is what any Socialist should say and think-to ensure that no young person, no adolescent is left out of the educational system due to economic problems, or family problems, which is what is happening under the reactionary laws passed by the PP, laws that we will repeal in the upcoming term.

A Government that facilitates access to the housing that all Spaniards deserve, they deserve an end to speculation. Affordable housing and I´m telling you right now that as soon as we take office, we will launch a full scale plan to make affording housing available, make publicly owned land available for housing and not for speculation. This includes a commitment to promote rental properties and the commitment for a land reform to reverse all the damage done by speculation and speculators in these past years, that has been paid for families through high mortgages.

A Government that declares war on job insecurity, and on the fraudulent practice of overlapping one junk contract with another, instead of offering stable long-term contracts. The government will impose harsh sanctions on violators, and they will not be eligible of any contract of any kind with the Administration presided by the Socialist Party Government. And all companies, and there are many, that do make advances in creating stable employment will receive more tax breaks, more aid, more incentives so that within two terms Spain´s level of stable employment reaches the European average. Today, we have double the average level of job insecurity existing in Europe, and we must quickly correct this unfair situation, that has meant that so many young people who worked and sacrificed so much as have their parents, to pay for their studies, feel that a dead-end future awaits them, highly affected by job instability, and by the lack of access to housing. After March 14 the youth of our nation will have new hope, with housing, stable employment, scholarships and tolerance as a basic social, civic and democratic principle.

I want a Government that is deservedly recognized the world over for the aid we provide to those in direst need, to countries with the gravest problems. And now, let me talk to you clearly about two problems. First, we have to organize a large scale protest, fight a huge battle, take part in a great rebellion, if you will, to end the scourge of machoist and criminal violence against women. This is simply not tolerable in an educated, modern, democratic society such as ours. Every month it gets worse, thousands and thousands of women are abused, nearly a hundred women die of gender based violence, and the first law, the first bill of law that we will take to Parliament, with preventive social funding for safety, security and justice, and I will not shave off a cent, will be a comprehensive law to prevent violence against women in Spain. And second, we deserve a better Spain the commits its best resources, its daily will in all areas, to ensure that all its citizens feel equal, and there are many disabled citizens who do not receive equal treatment, involving integration, aid, for employment, or for education. I assure you that our Government will support the educational future of a child with Down´s Syndrome in the same way as it supports a gifted child who could one day be university professor, the same effort as a nation, the same effort as a Government, and we will be recognized as such, as a dignified and solidary nation.

We deserve a better Spain, we deserve a better Government, and do you know who deserves it most of all? Euskadi. If the change on March 14 is important for Spain, it is even more important for Euskadi. We are the hope that Spain has for the future coexistence in Euskadi, we are the great hope for an end to terrorism, and peaceful coexistence among nationalists and non-nationalists. We are the great hope for a Euskadi Government that represents integration, the future, social cohesion, dialogue, respect for the Statute, a commitment to make advances in that Statute, and that Government will be led by Patxi López, member of the Basque Parliament. The countdown for Patxi López to be an MP starts on March 14 , with a Socialist victory in Spain and a new dynamic of understanding between the Central Government and the Basque Government.

Friends, brothers and sisters, Socialists, Basques, feel proud of your history, be proud of your present, be very proud of those young socialists who are a guarantee for the future, the future of an historical light in the Basque Socialist Party. Feel very proud of all the brothers and sisters who have sacrificed their lives for freedom, who defend and fight with their lives for liberty and democracy, feel very, very proud. You will all be proud of the Government that I will preside over as of March 14. Thank-you, and keep up the good work.

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