• Obituary Pedro Solbes dies, former vice president of the Government with Zapatero
  • Reactions Zapatero: "Solbes gathered the best qualities of a public servant"

This Saturday we have left one of those people whose imprint has contributed to making us all a little better. I sincerely believe that it is the most positive thing that can be said of a high official of the State, committed to the Government of his country, for a long period of time, sufficient to gather the achievements and failures of all human work.

First of all, my condolences to his family, friends and the members of the governments of the Socialist Party who had the opportunity to know him more directly as a person and companion of fatigues.

My relationship with him was from the opposition of ideas and approaches typical of democracy. For this reason, I was able to appreciate very closely his pragmatic character, nothing sectarian, his dialoguing and conciliatory tone that sometimes displeased more among his own ranks.

For years, I have had the opportunity to confront arguments from the Tribune of the Congress of Deputies, from the rooms of the Economy and Finance Commissions and in private meetings at Calle Alcalá 7 in Madrid. And now, that he is no longer with us, I can confirm that there have never been outbursts or bad forms that are so common in Spanish public life today.

If I have to summarize his personality, in the sad moment of his farewell, it is that of a convinced Europeanist and a determined member of the current of Liberal Socialism that Alfonso Guerra recently summarized in this newspaper.

Spain's entry into the then European Economic Community was a milestone in our modern history. In addition to an extraordinary boost on our economy, he reformulated the content and focus of our political system. And in his subsequent role as European Commissioner he had to manage the first major crisis of the Stability and Growth Pact following the failures of the founding countries, Germany and France.

His personality, and his deep democratic conviction made him understand that his positions in politics were provisional, perhaps a key to his longevity in them.

It is not the time, nor is it for me to take stock of your governance. Yes, it is to thank him for his commitment and tenacity to improve the lives of his fellow citizens.

For me it has been an honor to meet you and I appreciate that treatment of substance and mutual respect that we have always had. Rest in peace. Farewell.

Cristóbal Montoro was Minister of Finance in the governments of José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy.

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  • Mariano Rajoy
  • Jose Maria Aznar
  • France
  • Germany