José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former President of the Government of Spain, presented his book, ‘Crónicas de la España que dialoga’ (Navona Publishing House), during Sant Jordi’s Day in Barcelona. The book, which was introduced at the Cercle d’Economia on Monday afternoon, is the result of conversations with the former director of La Vanguardia, Josep Antich.
During a lively discussion with Antich and the deputy director of La Vanguardia, Enric Juliana, Zapatero shared insights from his time as President, including his experiences with Mariano Rajoy, Angela Merkel, and Barack Obama in various international settings. He also expressed his support for the current President, Pedro Sánchez, especially regarding the amnesty law for politicians involved in the ‘procés’.
Of course, Zapatero didn’t forget to mention his love for FC Barcelona, a passion he proudly embraces. During the event, he humorously recalled a letter he received from a polite older man in Madrid, warning him not to mention his support for Barça too often if he wanted to secure his vote. Since then, he’s been a bit more cautious about declaring his allegiance.
After the event, Zapatero spoke to the media about Lionel Messi. He expressed his admiration for the player and his belief that good times will come again for Barça, despite their tough rival, Real Madrid.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including former vice presidents of FC Barcelona, Jordi Cardoner and Emili Rousaud, as well as other renowned culés such as Javier Faus, former president of the club’s Economic Commission during Zapatero’s presidency, and the tireless politician Miquel Iceta. Also present were the former President of the Generalitat, José Montilla, and the businessman Jaume Roures, formerly of Mediapro.
