José María Aznar's Visit to Miami

The former president of Spain, José María Aznar, visited Miami on October 22, 2007.

At the emblematic Freedom Tower, Aznar received the Presidential Medal from the president of the Miami-Dade College, Eduardo Padrón, as a recognition for his actions as "defender of global democracy". In his speech Aznar warned of the danger of a new totalitarism that Hugo Chávez is trying to export from Venezuela to other Latin American countries. Aznar stated that he wants for Cuba the same things he wants for Spain, and he reminded his audience that in 2006 he proposed a common European Union policy towards Cuba based on the support of dissidents and a democratic transition in the Caribbean nation. He called for an Atlantic alliance against terrorism, wich he considers "a global threat that requires a global response".

The visit included a meeting with a group of members and sympathizers of the People's Party of Spain in the United States headed by its Secretary General and Territorial Delegate in Florida, Juan José Núñez.

José María Aznar and Juan José Núñez

You can find more details here.

Spain National Day 2007

Mariano Rajoy encourages all Spaniards to honor the Spanish flag, the national symbol that, together with the Crown, best represents the Spanish people, during the National Day cellebration (video in Spanish).

The territorial delegates in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York of the People's Party of Spain in the United States attended the events organized by the respecitve consulates of Spain in the US to cellebrate Spain National Day (October 12).

Visit of a Delegation from Pontevedra to Miami

A delegation from the Spanish province of Pontevedra visited the city of Miami, Florida between October 10 and 15, 2007. The delegation was composed of Mr. Rafael Louzán, president of the Provincial Government (Diputación) of Pontevedra and president of the People's Party of Spain in Pontevedra; Mr. Jose María Figueredo, vicepresident of the Provincial Government of Pontevedra and vicepresident of the People's Party of Spain in Pontevedra; Mr. José Manuel Barros Martínez, councilman in the city of Porriño, Spain; and Fernando Gómez, member of the Pontevedra Chamber of Commerce. The visit was the result of an invitation extended by the territorial delegation in Florida of the People's Party of Spain in the United States (PPE-USA) during the First Convention of the PPE-USA.

The Spanish delegation attended a number of events on an agenda prepared by Rolando Pérez, member of the Board of the People's Party of Spain in the US:

• Reception at Miami City Hall, where the mayor of Miami, Mr. Manuel A. Díaz, presented the key of the city to Mr. Rafael Louzán and declared October 12, 2007 "Pontevedra Day in Miami". Mr. Rafael Louzán presented plaques to Mr. Díaz and a Miami commissioner. The Consul General of Spain in Miami, Mr. Santiago Cabanas Ansorena, attended the event.
• Meeting and dinner with members and friends of the People's Party of Spain in the US from the Miami area.
• Dinner with 100 people, where entrepreneurs from the Spanish region of Galicia residing in Miami were recognized. Among other personalities, the event was attended by the Consul General of Spain in Miami, Mr. Santiago Cabanas Ansorena, and the Deputy Consul General, Ms. Pilar Méndez Jiménez.
• Visit to the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Miami, hosted by its Executive Director.
• Visit to the Miami offices of the Galician banks Caixanova and Caixa Galicia, where their directors explained the sizeable nature of their operations in Florida.
• Visit to the Consulate General of Spain in Miami, hosted by the Consul General and the Deputy Consul General.

You can find more details here.

Rodrigo Rato's Farewell Dinner in Washington D.C.

On October 10, 2007, a group of friends and members of the People's Party of Spain in Washington, DC organized a farewell dinner for Mr. Rodrigo Rato, outgoing Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Mr. Rato has served as IMG Managing Director from 2004 2007. Prior to that, he was Spain's Vice President and Minister (Secretary) of Economic Affairs from 1996 to 2004. This group of Spaniards from the Washington DC area thanked Mr. Rato for his brilliant and effective work at the helm of the FMI.



Juan José Núñez, Secretary General of the People's Party of Spain in the US, with Rodrigo Rato
More than 70 people attended the event. Mr. Rato spoke casually and openly with all attendees, although he did not divulged details on his future plans in Madrid, Spain.

You can find more details here.