Rafael Fernández Álvarez
Encyclopedia
Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez (September 17, 1913 - December 18, 2010) was a Spanish
politician and former political exile. Fernández served as the President of the Regional Council of Asturias
from 1978 until 1981 before becoming the first President of the Principality of Asturias from 1881 until May 1983. He was a member of the regional Federación Socialista Asturiana (FSA-PSOE) and the larger Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
(PSOE).
Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez was born into a poor family on September 17, 1913, in Oviedo
, the capital of Asturias
, Spain
. His father, Carlos, was employed at the Fábrica de Armas, an arms factory in Oviedo. His mother, Dolores, operated a catering
business in Oviedo. Fernández Álvarez enrolled at the University of Oviedo
, but did not complete his law degree at the university. He received a scholarship to study at a university in Belgium
, which he attended from 1933 until 1934.
Fernandez became politically active early in life and joined the Socialist Youth of Spain
at the age of 17. He became the organization's Secretary General in 1932. Fernadez then served as a member of the Socialist Provincial Committee of the Popular Front (Comité Provincial del Frente Popular) in Asturias during the Spanish Civil War
. Fernandez, a supporter of the Republicans, fled into exile following the victory of the Nationalists and the establishment of Francoist Spain in 1939 under General Francisco Franco
. He spent time in Paris
and Rhode Island
before landing in the Mexican port city of Veracruz. He worked a series of menial jobs upon arrival in Mexico City
, starting as a dishwasher at the Cantábrico restaurant.
Fernández returned to Asturias from exile in 1976 following the death of Franco the previous year. He played a pivotal role in the transition to democracy in Asturias, as well as cemented the power of the Spanish Socialists in Asturias following the end of Franco's rule. In 1978, Fernandez began serving as the President of the Regional Council of Asturias. He served in that position until Asturias became an Autonomous communities of Spain
(Estatuto de Autonomía) on December 30, 1981. Fernandez became the first President of the Principality of Asturias following the adoption of Asturian autonomy, an office he held until 1983 when he was succeeded by Pedro de Silva
.
Fernández also served as a PSOE Senator in the Spanish Senate
, the upper house of the Cortes Generales
, from 1977 until he left office in 2000. He also served as the first secretary general and chairman of the Federación Socialista Asturiana (FSA-PSOE) from 1994 until his death in 2010.
Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez died in his sleep at his home in Oviedo
, Asturias, on December 18, 2010 at the age of 97. He was survived by his second wife, Belén Torrecillas, with whom he had been married to for fourteen years. Fernández's first wife, Purificación Tomás, whom he married in 1937, was an activist and the daughter of socialist politician Belarmino Tomás
. The couple had four children during their marriage. Purificación Tomás died on November 10, 1990.
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 former political exile. Fernández served as the President of the Regional Council of Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
from 1978 until 1981 before becoming the first President of the Principality of Asturias from 1881 until May 1983. He was a member of the regional Federación Socialista Asturiana (FSA-PSOE) and the larger Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The 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...
(PSOE).
Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez was born into a poor family on September 17, 1913, in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, the capital of Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, Spain
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...
. His father, Carlos, was employed at the Fábrica de Armas, an arms factory in Oviedo. His mother, Dolores, operated a catering
Catering
Catering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
business in Oviedo. Fernández Álvarez enrolled at the University of Oviedo
University of Oviedo
The University of Oviedo is a public university in Asturias . It's the only university in the region. It has three campus and research centres, located in Oviedo, Gijón and Mieres.-History:...
, but did not complete his law degree at the university. He received a scholarship to study at a university in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which he attended from 1933 until 1934.
Fernandez became politically active early in life and joined the Socialist Youth of Spain
Socialist Youth of Spain
Socialist Youth of Spain is the youth organisation of the Spanish social democratic party Partido Socialista Obrero Español .-External links:*...
at the age of 17. He became the organization's Secretary General in 1932. Fernadez then served as a member of the Socialist Provincial Committee of the Popular Front (Comité Provincial del Frente Popular) in Asturias during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. Fernandez, a supporter of the Republicans, fled into exile following the victory of the Nationalists and the establishment of Francoist Spain in 1939 under General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
. He spent time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
before landing in the Mexican port city of Veracruz. He worked a series of menial jobs upon arrival in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, starting as a dishwasher at the Cantábrico restaurant.
Fernández returned to Asturias from exile in 1976 following the death of Franco the previous year. He played a pivotal role in the transition to democracy in Asturias, as well as cemented the power of the Spanish Socialists in Asturias following the end of Franco's rule. In 1978, Fernandez began serving as the President of the Regional Council of Asturias. He served in that position until Asturias became an Autonomous communities of Spain
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...
(Estatuto de Autonomía) on December 30, 1981. Fernandez became the first President of the Principality of Asturias following the adoption of Asturian autonomy, an office he held until 1983 when he was succeeded by Pedro de Silva
Pedro de Silva
Pedro de Silva Cienfuegos-Jovellanos is a Spanish politician and writer. He served as the second President of the Principality of Asturias from June 17, 1983, until July 10, 1991....
.
Fernández also served as a PSOE Senator in the Spanish Senate
Spanish Senate
The Senate of Spain is the upper house of Spain's parliament, the . It is made up of 264 members: 208 elected by popular vote, and 56 appointed by the regional legislatures. All senators serve four-year terms, though regional legislatures may recall their appointees at any time.The last election...
, the upper house of the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
, from 1977 until he left office in 2000. He also served as the first secretary general and chairman of the Federación Socialista Asturiana (FSA-PSOE) from 1994 until his death in 2010.
Rafael Luis Fernández Álvarez died in his sleep at his home in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Asturias, on December 18, 2010 at the age of 97. He was survived by his second wife, Belén Torrecillas, with whom he had been married to for fourteen years. Fernández's first wife, Purificación Tomás, whom he married in 1937, was an activist and the daughter of socialist politician Belarmino Tomás
Belarmino Tomás
Belarmino Tomás Álvarez was a socialist politician....
. The couple had four children during their marriage. Purificación Tomás died on November 10, 1990.