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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas A Watson who wrote (566365)	4/18/2004 2:23:41 AM
From: tejek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Raised fist welcomes Spain’s new anti-war PM From Elizabeth Nash in Madrid, Spain José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero entered the Spanish prime minister’s residence in Madrid yesterday in a typically downbeat style that fits perfectly with his intention to break from the past eight years of conservative rule. While his predecessor José María Aznar strolled regally around the gardens of the little palace on the fringes of town with his wife and children, Zapatero slipped quietly into his new home alone, his wife Sonsoles arrived separately.Amid the heady joy in parliament on Friday, after MPs had overwhelmingly approved his candidacy as prime minister (only the defeated Popular Party voted against) an action of one man in the visitors’ gallery was revealing: as applause rippled round the chamber, Juan Rodriguez, Zapatero’s snowy-haired father, could not resist raising his fist in the old socialist salute, a sight not seen in parliament for many years. Zapatero, 43, has always said he was inspired by his Republican grandfather, who was shot by Franco’s forces early in the civil war. The new leader swore loyalty to King Juan Carlos yesterday, and his ministers will do the same today, five weeks after the Socialists’ surprise election victory transformed Spain’s political scene and recasted political alliances across Europe. MPs voted 183 to 148 to endorse Zapatero, who has shaken the world with his commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq unless the UN takes charge before June 30. He said in the two-day debate that preceded the vote that both the war and the occupation were illegal as they lacked a UN mandate. “If the United Nations does not take over political control and the military command of that country, Spanish troops will come back to us. I have set a deadline of June 30,” he said. Pressed to clarify his position by Mariano Rajoy, the opposition Popular Party leader, Zapatero responded: “You ask what we will do on Iraq? We will remove Spain from an illegal and unjust war.” To the delight of his backbenchers, he continued: “Do you think we lack votes in this chamber or among the people? No. You are the ones who lacked votes for keeping Spain in the Azores photo.” He was referring to the photograph, of José María Aznar with President George Bush and Tony Blair, symbolising what Aznar considered his crowning achievement: putting Spain on the international map. But the image prompted the biggest anti-war movement the country has ever known, creating the momentum that swept Aznar from power. Those remarks contained a rare note of steel in a debate remarkable for tones of conciliation and dialogue which have not been heard in Spanish public life for eight years. True, his minority government needs the support of the regional parties – all of whom have increased their parliamentary presence. But Zapatero's courteous replies to regional parties revealed just how dramatic the changes are both political style and direction. He restated his opposition to Basque claims for independence, but in contrast to his predecessors he promised respect for, and dialogue with, the region’s autonomous parliament. Zapatero must heed the demands of Spain’s restless regions to survive, and his commitment to España plural marks a decisive devolution of powers and influence; a relaxation of Madrid’s centralised grip imposed by Aznar. In a clear rejection of the conservatives’ high Catholicism, Zapatero promised a secular education system, prompt legislation against domestic violence. He also backed gay rights, including homosexual marriage. His new cabinet, which meets tomorrow for the first time, contains eight men and eight women in fulfilment of an election promise. This is the first time Spain, indeed any European country but Sweden, has formed a government of sexual equality. He promised to mend fences with Europe, and to work for the completion of a new EU constitution by the end of June. He also promised to scrap a controversial €42bn (£28bn) project to divert the Ebro River. The plan had provoked mass demonstrations in Catalonia and Aragon almost as fierce as those against the war. “The government will replace the Ebro transfer with more efficient, cheaper and less controversial projects” to supply water to Spain’s parched southern regions, Zapatero said. 18 April 2004 sundayherald.com