Emilio Pérez Touriño
Encyclopedia
Emilio Pérez Touriño is a Spanish
politician and economist. He is the former secretary general of the Socialist Party of Galicia
and, from August 2005 to March 2009, former president of the autonomous community
of Galicia (Spain). Namely, he was president of the executive branch
, the Xunta de Galicia
. His political views are socialdemocratic
and Galicianist
.
by profession, Pérez Touriño completed a course of specialisation at the University of Grenoble (France). He finished his doctoral degree
in economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela
. He was also vice-president for financial affairs in that same university. During his university years, Touriño developed an intense academic activity, teaching and publishing a number of works on economy and development. He would frequently use Galicia and Galicia's infrastructures as a case study in the integration with the European Union
.
(1975–1982), following the end of the Francoist dictatorship, Touriño revealed himself as a left wing political activist and even participated in the drafting of the Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981
. He joined the cabinet of minister Abel Caballero
at the Spanish ministry for transportation, tourism and communications. He also worked in a senior position at the ministry for public works, transportation and the environment. In 1994, he was accused of having accepted irregular payments and as a result renounced to all his political posts and returned to academia. That same year he also received the Spanish Great Cross of Civil Merit. He eventually returned to politics in 1996
when he was elected to the Spanish Congress representing A Coruña Province
though he resigned from Congress in 1997.
In 1998, Touriño replaced Francisco Vázquez as general secretary of the Socialist Party of Galicia
. In 2005 he became the president of Galicia, defeating Manuel Fraga's People's Party of Galicia
, thanks to a coalition government
established with the Galician Nationalist Bloc. Subsequently, both coalition parties were engaged by the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
, in reviewing the current Statute of Autonomy
, in order to renegotiate the status of Galicia as a part of the Spanish State
. He was re-elected secretary general of the Socialist Party of Galicia in July 2008.
In the elections of 2009, his government was ousted by Alberto Núñez Feijóo
of the PP.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
politician and economist. He is the former secretary general of the Socialist Party of Galicia
Socialist Party of Galicia
The Socialist Party of Galicia is a centre-left political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . It defines itself as a Galicianist and social democratic party.-External links:Official*...
and, from August 2005 to March 2009, former president of the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Galicia (Spain). Namely, he was president of the executive branch
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
, the Xunta de Galicia
Xunta de Galicia
The Xunta de Galicia is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President and the specialized ministers ....
. His political views are socialdemocratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
and Galicianist
Galicianism (Galicia)
Galicianism is a political ideology of nationalist character whose objective is the defence of Galicia and its culture by the means of the establishment and strengthening of its own institutions.-Origins:...
.
Academic studies
An economistEconomist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
by profession, Pérez Touriño completed a course of specialisation at the University of Grenoble (France). He finished his doctoral degree
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela
University of Santiago de Compostela
The Royal University of Santiago de Compostela - USC is a public university located in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. A second campus is located in Lugo, Galicia....
. He was also vice-president for financial affairs in that same university. During his university years, Touriño developed an intense academic activity, teaching and publishing a number of works on economy and development. He would frequently use Galicia and Galicia's infrastructures as a case study in the integration with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Politics
During the transition to democracySpanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
(1975–1982), following the end of the Francoist dictatorship, Touriño revealed himself as a left wing political activist and even participated in the drafting of the Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981
Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981
The Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.-Genesis of the 1981 Statute:...
. He joined the cabinet of minister Abel Caballero
Abel Caballero
Abel Ramón Caballero Álvarez is a Spanish professor of Economics and the current Mayor of Vigo.Caballero had previously served in the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing A Coruña Province from 1982 to 1986 and Pontevedra Province from 1986 to 1997.-External links:*...
at the Spanish ministry for transportation, tourism and communications. He also worked in a senior position at the ministry for public works, transportation and the environment. In 1994, he was accused of having accepted irregular payments and as a result renounced to all his political posts and returned to academia. That same year he also received the Spanish Great Cross of Civil Merit. He eventually returned to politics in 1996
Spanish general election, 1996
General elections were held in Spain on March 3, 1996. The Prime Minister Felipe González of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party lost the elections to Partido Popular and their leader José María Aznar....
when he was elected to the Spanish Congress representing A Coruña Province
A Coruña (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
A Coruña is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies - the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales. It is located in the Community of Galicia. A Coruña is the largest municipality and the only municipality with more than 100,000 voters...
though he resigned from Congress in 1997.
In 1998, Touriño replaced Francisco Vázquez as general secretary of the Socialist Party of Galicia
Socialist Party of Galicia
The Socialist Party of Galicia is a centre-left political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . It defines itself as a Galicianist and social democratic party.-External links:Official*...
. In 2005 he became the president of Galicia, defeating Manuel Fraga's People's Party of Galicia
People's Party of Galicia
The People's Party of Galicia is a centre-right political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish People's Party....
, thanks to a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
established with the Galician Nationalist Bloc. Subsequently, both coalition parties were engaged by the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
, in reviewing the current Statute of Autonomy
Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981
The Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.-Genesis of the 1981 Statute:...
, in order to renegotiate the status of Galicia as a part of the Spanish State
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was re-elected secretary general of the Socialist Party of Galicia in July 2008.
In the elections of 2009, his government was ousted by Alberto Núñez Feijóo
Alberto Núñez Feijóo
Alberto Núñez Feijóo is the 5th and current President of the Xunta of Galicia.Núñez Feijóo became president in April 2009 following the regional parliamentary elections held in Galicia the previous month....
of the PP.
Academic publications (selection)
- _ (1982): "A Evolución da agricultura no capitalismo: a concepción dos clásicos do marxismo como paradigma dunha visión determinista do desenvolvemento histórico", in Revista galega de estudios agrarios, no. 6, p. 183-207.
- _ (1983): Agricultura y capitalismo: análisis de la pequeña producción campesina. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, Servicio de Publicaciones Agrarias, Madrid.
- _ (1992): "Las infraestructuras como factor de despegue del desarrollo gallego", in Estructura económica de Galicia, González Laxe [dir]. Espasa Calpe, Madrid, p. 429-488.
- _ et al. (1997): Infraestructuras y desarrollo regional: efectos económicos de la autopista del Atlántico. Civitas, Madrid.
- _ et al. (1998): Los Efectos económicos de las autovías de Galicia. Instituto de Estudios Económicos de Galicia Pedro Barrié de la Maza, A Coruña.
- _ (2001): En clave de país. Santa Comba, A Coruña.
- _ (2001): "Eurorrexión Galicia-Norte de Portugal, unha oportunidade e un reto", in Tempo exterior, no. 3, p. 17-22.
See also
- Xunta de GaliciaXunta de GaliciaThe Xunta de Galicia is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President and the specialized ministers ....
- Parliament of GaliciaParliament of GaliciaThe Galician Parliament is the unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It is formed by 75 deputies . Deputies are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of the Xunta of Galicia, by...
- Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981The Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.-Genesis of the 1981 Statute:...
- Socialist Party of GaliciaSocialist Party of GaliciaThe Socialist Party of Galicia is a centre-left political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . It defines itself as a Galicianist and social democratic party.-External links:Official*...
- Spanish Socialist Workers' PartySpanish Socialist Workers' PartyThe Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...