Murcian President Resigns - Austerity to follow !

The Murcian regional president... Ramon Luis Vacarcel has resigned from his post in order to stand for the forthcoming European parliament elections on May 25th.

Vacarcel of the Partido Popular (Peoples Party) has served in the role since his election in 1995. He started his political career in 982, the year in which he joined the Partido Popular and later took on responsibility for the territorial organization of the Local Meeting of the municipality of Murcia.

In October, 1983 he became a member of the Executive Regional Committee of the PP, as the leader of the Territorial Area of the Region of Murcia. Four years later, in 1987, he was nominated a regional vice-president of the People's party. In the Municipal Elections of 1987 he was elected as a councilman of the Town of Murcia, regaining the role of president and speaker of the Municipal Group for the People's party.

In 1991, as head of the People's party, he won the Municipal Elections to the Town of Murcia, although an political agreement between the Socialist and the United left parties prevented him from acceding to the Mayoralty. In November 1991, he was elected president of the People's party of the Region of Murcia, a post that he has retained in successive congresses.

The immediate successor for Vacarcel and the candidate chosen by him personally will be his current No2....Alberto Garre, born in the town of Torre Pacheco Murcia in February 1952 . Garre is a lawyer and his political career was boosted by his pharmacist father who was a councillor in his hometown. Garre also served as counclilor and spokesman of the Popular Party in the city from 1987 to 1995. He was regional deputy for the People's Party from 1991 to 2004 .  

After his formal takeover of the role its is expected that Garre will work hard to tackle the Murcian regional deficit which is currently the highest in the country. To this end a period of austerity and a reduction in central office functions and administration is expected, two key figures in the administration have already been given the Spanish Archer (El-Bow) - Juan Bernal the finance minister and Pedro Cruz.

Of particular interest is the demise is Pedro Cruz who has been the main force behind regional tourism in the area and a strong advocate and promoter of  "Paramount Park" and the airport at Covera  - further lengthy delays in both of these projects seem inevitable  - and it was all going so well on 1st April !!