Abel Matutes

Abel Matutes Juan (Ibiza, October 31, 1941) is a Spanish politician, businessman and banker, mayor of Ibiza during the Franco dictatorship and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the first cabinet of José María Aznar..

Academic career

Son of Antonio Matutes, he studied Law and Economic Sciences at the University of Barcelona, later working as a professor of Political Economy and Public Finance at the same University. He is an honorary professor at the University of Buenos Aires and an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Santiago de Chile and the Autonomous University of Madrid. He is an honorary member of the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language. Corresponding national academic for the Balearic Islands of the Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences of Spain.

Sports career

At the same time that he was studying Law and Economic Sciences, he played soccer until he played professionally for RCD Español. He also received offers from Barcelona to join their club, but the businessman preferred business studies.

Business activity

Throughout his life he has been president of the Fiesta Hotel Group Hotel Company and the Doliga Hotel Group. Likewise, he was a director of the & # 34; Banca Abel Matutes & # 34;. He is currently president of Grupo Empresas Matutes and owner of the multinational Fiesta Hotel Group called Palladium Hotel Group since 2012.

Political career

His political career had two meanings: one, as part of the body of the State and another as part of a political party. Both functions were assumed simultaneously on several occasions.

Within the political party

He was a member of the Popular Party, of which he was first vice president and president of the electoral committee. He left the PP in November 2008, after more than 20 years of activism, according to his statements "for defend their businesses better" considering that he is persecuted by the Ibiza Island Council, led by PSOE at that time.

Public offices

During the Franco dictatorship, he served as mayor of Ibiza between 1970 and 1971. He was vice president of Alianza Popular. Elected senator in the first democratic elections held in Spain on June 15, 1977. In 1982 he was elected to Congress of the Deputies. In 1986 he was appointed member of the European Commission led by Jacques Delors.

He headed the lists for the European Parliament in 1994 for the Popular Party, obtaining the first national victory of said party in an election.

He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 6, 1996 during the first government of José María Aznar. During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he made an official visit to Cuba, which constituted a historic event since it would be the first gesture of rapprochement between the Spanish government and the Cuban regime. Subsequently, the island would be visited by Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Matutes' successor, betting on a gradual restitution of relations between both countries. In this regard, Matutes praised the management of the PSOE for giving continuity to the project started with the island, despite being from a historically opposing party.

In the European Union

From the moment Spain entered the European Union, Matutes was in charge of constantly ensuring that Spain participated naturally in the regional integration process. While he belonged to the European Commission, he was entrusted with representing his country, ensuring community interests.

In 1999 he was the protagonist of a political scandal, by providing his support as a member of the European Commission to the Italian candidate, Romano Prodi, against the Spanish candidate, Javier Solana, who at that time was secretary general of NATO. Despite this disagreement with the interests of its country, the government of José María Aznar did not comment on the matter; However, the press treated her attitude quite critically.

During his management in the European Commission, he began a training process for the cabinet of said organization, to create mechanisms for dialogue, avoiding political friction between the different representatives.

Family

He has four children, three girls and one boy. His son Abel Matutes Prats is president of Palladium Hotel Group and vice president of Grupo Empresas Matutes, his daughter Estrella Matutes Prats was Urban Planning advisor of the Ibiza Island Council during the 2003-2007 term, and his daughter Carmen Matutes Prats is deputy director, manages the Abel Matutes Foundation and Fundatur.