Spain: Veteran Iribarne elected to fourth term

Ex-minister from the time of Francisco Franco, Fraga Iribarne, has been elected to his fourth term as President of the Xunta of Galicia, the regional government of this province on Portugal’s northern border with Spain.

Despite his 79 years of age, Manuel Fraga Iribarne conducted a vigorous campaign for the Popular Party (Conservative), winning his fourth consecutive term as President of the Regional Autonomous Government (Xunta). He was expected to have one by an absolute majority, a fact to be confirmed tomorrow, his fourth in succession.

Fraga Iribarne has always sought to hold back the nationalist tendencies of the Galician activists, some of whom feel more affinity with northern Portugal ( the province of Minho in general and specifically, the city of Oporto) than with Madrid.

While promoting the culture of Galicia, where the language “Gallego”, as opposed to “Castellano” is spoken, Fraga Iribarne places the emphasis on regionalism, rather than nationalism, a feeling apparently backed up by the majority of Spaniards, proven yet again by this autonomous region’s election.

The Galician Nationalist Block were second and the Socialist Party came in third.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru LISBON PORTUGAL