José Atarés

José Atarés Martínez (2 August 1960 – 26 September 2013) was a Spanish People's Party (PP) politician. He was a city councillor (1991–2007) and the mayor of Zaragoza (2000–2003). He was also a senator representing the Province of Zaragoza from 2004 until his death.

Biography

Born in El Vallecillo, Province of Teruel, Aragon, Atarés was the son of a farm manager. His father wanted him to continue the family trade, but instead he became an estate agent, then graduated in Law from the University of Zaragoza. He then opened a law firm.[1]

Briefly in the Socialist Party of Aragon, Atarés joined the PP in the mid-1980s. He was first elected to the city hall in 1991, first in opposition to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). In 1995, his party entered government. Luisa Fernanda Rudi became mayor and he was first deputy and spokesman. When she left office in April 2000 to become President of the Congress of Deputies, he became the mayor.[1]

Two months after Atarés's inauguration, two members of ETA were detained for plotting his assassination.[2] David Pla Marín and Aitor Lorente were jailed for the plot.[3] In the city hall, his party had to form a coalition with the Aragonese Party (PAR), and lost popularity due to a lack of opposition to some of the PP national government's proposals, such as the National Hydrological Plan and the Iraq War. This led to his defeat as mayor in 2003, though he remained on the city council until 2007.[1]

In 2004, Atarés unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of Aragon's PP against Gustavo Alcalde.[4] He also served as a senator from 2004 until his death.[1] As mayor, he campaigned for Zaragoza to hold Expo 2008.[5] The exposition was won by the city and held during the mandate of his successor Juan Alberto Belloch, who recognised his role in earning it for the city.[6] Belloch also awarded Atarés, as well as all other democratic mayors of the city whether living or dead, with Zargoza's Gold Medal in 2008.[7]

Atarés died of colorectal cancer on 26 September 2013, at the age of 53. Zaragoza paid tribute to him with a monument in his honour, near to the Expo 2008 site.The Avenida de las Ranillas was renamed after him, causing some controversy as locals were not consulted of the change.[8] The street was originally named after frogs, who inspired sculptures and mascots at the Expo.[9]

References
  1. Mantecón, F.; Ibaez, A. (27 September 2013). "El cáncer acaba con la vida del exalcalde José Atarés" [Cancer ends the life of former mayor José Atarés]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. Monserrat, Concha (28 July 2000). "La policía detiene a dos etarras que preparaban un atentado contra el alcalde de Zaragoza" [Police detain two ETA members who were preparing an attack on the mayor of Zaragoza]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. "La detención del etarra David Pla no aclarará el crimen de Giménez Abad" [The detention of the ETA member David Pla will not clear up the Giménez Abad crime]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. "Alcalde vence a Atarés por 32 votos y ´copa´ los delegados de Zaragoza" [Alcalde beats Atarés by 32 votes and 'sweeps the board' of Zaragoza's delegates]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 29 October 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. "Atarés promete hacer de Zaragoza una referencia cultural mundial" [Atarés promises to make Zaragoza into a worldwide cultural landmark]. ABC (in Spanish). 12 May 2003. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. "Belloch destaca que José Atarés fue "un gran alcalde y dignificó la política"" [Belloch highlights that José Atarés was "a great mayor and brought dignity to politics"] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. "Belloch condecora los escándalos de González Triviño" [Belloch decorates González Triviño's scandals]. ABC. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. "Atarés da nombre a la avenida Ranillas" [Atarés gives his name to the Avenida Ranillas]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 31 March 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  9. "Unas ranas ´menos´ populares" [Some 'less' popular frogs]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 31 July 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
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