Courtesy of Madrid
Region
Esperanza Aguirre,
President Marid Region. |
I first
met Esperanza Aguirre recently at the inauguration
of a major trade fair here in Madrid. She struck
me as a very determined politician with high objectives.
It was the day after the US Presidential elections
and she asked me who I thought had won, as the results
were not yet known here. To me it demonstrated her
keen interest in the United States and her desire
to see US Spanish relations on an even keel.
Now President
of the Autonomous Region of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre
has come a long way since she graduated with a law
degree from Madrid’s prestigious Complutense
University. Her political career truly began in
1983 where she was working for the Municipality
of Madrid on environment and cultural issues before
being nominated first lieutenant to the Mayor and
spokesperson for the Consistorio Capitalino. From
there she was elevated into the realm of national
politics as senator for Madrid in the 1996 general
elections.
Two months
later Aznar selected Aguirre to be in charge of
the Education and Culture ministry for in the first
Popular Party (PP ) Government, which she left in
1999 to become the first woman presiding over The
Senate. In March of 2000 she was reelected to the
high chamber and became the "most voted for
Senator" in Spain.
She kept
her Senate position until 2002 until she was nominated
by the PP party as candidate for the Presidency
for The Madrid Region. Wining both the 25th of May
and 26th of October elections. She became the first
woman to be elected to the presidency of an autonomous
region.
I recently sat down with her and asked the following
questions:
Recalling
your entire political career, which has spanned
nearly 25 years and goes back to the beginning of
the 1980’s, I would like to know if you are
content with the direction it has taken up to now?
Secondly do you think it would have been different
if you had been a man?
I entered
into politics with "liberal" ideas, as
liberalism, in my mind goes together with a free
market economy. This approach has always been beneficial
to the people and made populations prosper and helped
get rid of poverty to those that applied these principles.
I would
like to think that in the quarter century that I
have been in politics I have contributed modestly
to the well being of my countrymen and that even
some of my political adversaries have come to admit
that those governments that are the least "interventionist"
and cautious with public spending, give rise to
the freest and most prosperous societies.
As a woman
I am a pioneer in the Spanish political arena, entering
politics 25 years ago into a world dominated by
men. We were few and it wasn’t easy to chart
a course in a world dominated by men. In that respect
it gives me enormous satisfaction to think that
the woman of my generation have contributed to the
breaking down of barriers and sexist prejudices
and paved the way for future generations of women.
As for
my part I have had the honor of being the first
female president of the Spanish Senate as well as
the first female to be President of an autonomous
region. Even though there are more women every day
assuming high level roles in Spain’s political
arena, there is still a long way to go in terms
of gaining equal footing with men in the political
field.
Given
the positive economic growth that the Madrid Region
has seen in recent years, coupled with a drop in
unemployment, what are the measures you have taken
that made this happen? What will you do to sustain
it?
The Madrid
Region is an inland area with relatively few natural
resources and far removed from major economic and
financial centers yet has been at the forefront
of one of Europe’s most collective successes
and has transformed itself into the engine that
drives Spain’s economy.
In 1996
the population of the Madrid Region was a little
over 5 million, today, ten years later it stands
at more than 6 million. In ten years the population
grew by 1 million or 19%. It is interesting to compare
the magnitude and scope of this demographic growth
with the world population during the same period
(1996-2006) which grew at 13.4% or with Europe at
15%. Putting it another way, the population of the
Madrid Region grew more than the world average.
Another
positive factor of Madrid’s success was in
job creation. Madrid has created more than 1 million
jobs since 1996 and in the last few years has reduced
unemployment by 15 points from 21% to 6.1% at present.
Today Madrid
with a per capita of more than 27,200 Euros annually
is 30% ahead of the average per capita income of
the European Union even though the population of
the Madrid Region only increased by one million.
Within
this favorable economic context, Madrid has received
60% of all foreign investments since 1995. It also
means that the Madrid Stock Exchange has become
one of the most important in Southern Europe and
is only behind London Paris and Frankfurt in ranking.
Interestingly enough it has been the most profitable
in the last decade with an average yield of 17.40
%, positioning Madrid ahead of Paris, London, Tokyo
and New York.
I think
that the overall success has inspired a certain
positive image of Madrid and created confidence
in the overall business and economic climate. Madrid
has created a successful brand for itself in the
international arena. "Madrid a business open
place"
In relation
to the world and specifically the United States,
within which sectors would you like see an increase
foreign investment?
In Madrid,
all projects for foreign investment are well received,
from the smallest to the most ambitious as all contribute
to increasing employment and generating wealth.
We are all aware than in this global world, the
key to competitiveness for the most sophisticated
economies is in research and innovation.
What role
has the Government played in positioning Madrid
as a center for international arbitration?
The Madrid Regional Government considers international
arbitration as one of the most important methods
in conflict resolution affecting international trade.
For this
reason we are pushing for Madrid to become an international
arbitration center, using law 60/2003 (December
23rd) as well as the leadership shown by the Madrid
economy as the driving force in Spain and the many
cultural and linguistic ties that we share with
Latin America.
The project’s
main objective is to take advantage of the existing
conditions to make Madrid a center of international
arbitration with a Latin American component.
These activities
began in June 2006 with the international conference
of the Spanish Club of Arbitration which the King
inaugurated. I should also mention that the "
Campus de la Justicia" ( the transfer of all
law and judicial bodies to a center out side Madrid
know literally as " A law campus") will
be the largest judicial infrastructure in Europe
and will have an area devoted only to international
arbitration.
What
are your political aspirations for the future?
My main
goal is to win the regional elections ( May 2007)
and continue to contribute to a return of the Popular
Party (PP) in the general elections to be held in
2008.
Do you
have a message that you would like to direct to
the American Political leadership?
I am a
great admirer of the United States and its citizens.
The United States was and is the first free democratic
nation in the modern age. A nation which we always
look to as a point of reference and use as an example
for nations on the road to independence, liberty
and democracy.
I also
admire your country for fighting to extend those
ideals around the world.
Therefore
the message I would like to send to the American
political leadership is always remember what your
country stands for; liberty, security and peace
in the world.
|
Spain 
