When? Joan Gaspart Y Josep Lluis Nuñez won the presidential election BarcaIn 1978, in the middle of the Transition Period, the future president had the idea that it would be a good idea for the two of them to take a rest for a few days “in a quiet place where no one knew us.” They flew to the other end of the world, Seychelles island, an idyllic archipelago in the Indian Ocean. “Some Catalans recognized us as soon as we arrived at the hotel,” Gaspart now says in a phone call. It’s a minor issue because those holidays have come a long way. The hotel operator learned during the trial that the Seychelles did not have it. consulate inside Spain and after “some effort” the position was granted. Finally he was honorary consul The oldest Seychelles in the world.
“I became the honorary consul of Turkey” seychelles inside BarcelonaIn the end, Gaspart, who also headed Barça, proudly says. “What we are doing is taking care of the citizens who come to Spain, the young people who come to study or the young people who have a problem like losing their school. passport. Our job is the job of an NGO, I do not get paid for the execution of the position,” he said. Gaspart is one of the familiar faces populating the neighborhood. honorary consulates in barcelonathird city in the world without state capital status with more consular delegations, only new York Y Hong Kong. completely 92 consulatesAccording to the Generalitat’s latest registry, mansions were dispersed by modernist homes, offices in the upper part of town, and professional offices.
Of all, Administered by 58 honorary consuls, private citizens chosen by the country because of their roots in the city, their reputation, or their affiliation with the country represented. they are not career diplomats and they have less qualifications than the usual consuls, but tend to be used a lot by them. Developing countries A small number of states that do not have the budget to open a consular delegation outside the capital economic links with Spain. Plenty of profiles lawyersbut not only, because the position has historically been coveted by prominent figures. Catalan financial and political elite.
famous people
Some are very media, like himself Joan Gaspart and others, less well-known, but much more powerful, for example Sun Daurellachairman of Coca-Cola Europan Partners, Icelandic consul; José Manuel Basanez, ‘former minister’ of the economy and former president of companies such as Acesa or Caprabo representing Singapore; anyone Andres Carasso, Iberdrola delegate of Catalonia and honorary delegate of Ivory Coast. “There are three types of honorary consuls: proximity with the country who names them, sort of Business relationships and ghosts, people who want to say they are honorary consuls to enter certain social and political circles”, explains a former consul from a foreign country in Barcelona.
Inside Valencia Highlights economy’s ‘exconseller’ family Max Money, honorary consul of Germany, a position formerly held by his German father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. Former Member of Parliament and Senator José Maria Chiquillo He was appointed to represent Uzbekistan in June. “It’s always a matter of trust,” says lawyer Jacinto Soler Padro, was ten years honorary from Austria. “The consulate gives the opportunity to access a range of relationships that would otherwise be difficult to access. There may be trade-offs, but this is not the norm”, adds Soler Padró.
Journalist Rafael Burgos In his book “L’orgia diplomàtica” he explored the sewers of the industry, where he extensively emptied consuls in dubious deals. “It’s an opaque world with hidden interests,” says Burgos. “It took a lot of fees Positions at Barça or submitted to the Board. There are also many profiles associated with La Caixa, Albertis or Repsol”. During the investigation, the journalist discovered that in most major corruption cases, sooner or later a diplomat appears.
A Pujol attempt
Jordi Pujol Ferrusola He tried to buy the honorary consulate position. Gabon For 17 million pesetas, according to Burgos, but without success. Many characters associated with consulates also appeared. ‘Falciani list’ from tax evaders. “Years ago, an agency was announced in an international newspaper dedicated to managing the procedures for becoming a country’s honorary consul. I know someone who understands this way, even though I can’t say his name,” explains a former consul. Another who recently left is more extensive. “There is so much that I don’t know where to start. I saw everything in my honorary years,” he said.
investigation International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and attended ProPublica NEWSPAPER Along with El País, La Sexta and more than 50 international media, 29 honorary consuls Those who have problems with the law in Spain and abroad from our country. Some for committing heinous crimes like lawyers Rosario PortoFrench Consul Santiago de Compostela sentenced to ten years in prison 18 years in prison for him murder of his daughter Hypothesis. Porto was found dead in his cell in November 2020. Years ago, in 2017, the Macedonian government dismissed the honorary consul in Barcelona, dentist Mario César Deus Yela. South Africa of the murder of twins three years. Two years later he was found dead in the Cape Town prison where he was serving his sentence.
However, the industry ensures that most honorary consuls only seek to defend the interests of the country they represent, with rigorous respect for the law. “Whoever wants to be a consul for the benefit is wrong. I was very clear that it was to serve, not to serve me,” says Joan Gaspart.
Source: Informacion
Brandon Hall is an author at “Social Bites”. He is a cultural aficionado who writes about the latest news and developments in the world of art, literature, music, and more. With a passion for the arts and a deep understanding of cultural trends, Brandon provides engaging and thought-provoking articles that keep his readers informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the cultural world.