José Pedro Pérez-Llorca Explained

Office:Minister of Foreign Affairs
Predecessor:Marcelino Oreja
Successor:Fernando Morán López
Term Start:9 September 1980
Term End:1 December 1982
Office1:Minister for Territorial Administrations
Primeminister1:Adolfo Suárez
Term Start1:3 May 1980
Term End1:9 September 1980
Predecessor1:Antonio Fontán
Successor1:Rodolfo Martín Villa
Office4:Member of the Congress of Deputies
Office3:Minister of the Presidency
Primeminister3:Adolfo Suárez
Term Start3:6 April 1979
Term End3:3 May 1980
Predecessor3:José Manuel Otero
Successor3:Rafael Arias-Salgado
Term Start4:29 June 1977
Term End4:31 August 1982
Birth Name:José Pedro Pérez-Llorca Rodrigo
Birth Date:30 November 1940
Birth Place:Cádiz, Spain
Death Place:Madrid, Spain
Party:Union of the Democratic Centre
Alma Mater:Universidad Complutense
Nationality:Spanish

José Pedro Pérez-Llorca (30 November 1940 – 6 March 2019) was a Spanish lawyer who served as the minister of foreign affairs from 1980 to 1982. His term witnessed Spain's accession to NATO and significant events in relation to the accession of Spain to the European Union. He was also one of the Fathers of the Constitution and played a key role in the country's transition to democracy.[1]

Early life and education

Pérez-Llorca was born in Cádiz on 30 November 1940.[2] [3] He graduated from the Universidad Complutense, Madrid, with a law degree.[2]

Career

Pérez-Llorca was a lawyer by profession and worked in the ministry of foreign affairs.[2] He also worked as a professor of constitutional law at his alma mater, Universidad Complutense.[2] He played a significant role in the creation of Spain's 1978 constitution[2] in that he was part of the seven-member commission, la Ponencia, which produced the draft constitution.[4]

Pérez-Llorca became a member of the Union of the Democratic Centre.[2] He served in the Congress of Deputies from 1977 to 1982, representing the province of Madrid.[2] In 1979 he was appointed minister for the presidency and minister of territorial administration in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez.[2]

In September 1980, Pérez-Llorca was appointed minister of foreign affairs, replacing Marcelino Oreja in the post.[5] [6] The cabinet was headed by Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez.[7] Pérez-Llorca continued to serve as minister of foreign affairs in the next cabinet led by Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo.[2] [7]

Pérez-Llorca's term under Adolfo Suárez was not productive due to the political tensions in the country.[7] In his second term under Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo the foreign policy of Spain became much closer to the Western countries.[8] In line with this turn Pérez-Llorca focused on the Spain's relations with the European countries.[7] On 17 November 1982 the European Parliament approved the accession of Spain to the European Communities.[7] Another significant event during his tenure was Spain's membership to NATO in May 1982.[7] His term as minister ended in December 1982.[7]

Pérez-Llorca had several positions on the boards of different firms. He co-founded the Pérez-Llorca law firm in 1983 serving as its chairman from then until at least 2005.[9] He was the chairman of Urquijo Leasing and AEG Ibérica and a member of the Board of Telefónica and of the Madrid Stock Exchange Council.[10]

Other activities

Pérez-Llorca was a board member of directors of the International Airlines Group.[11] He had also membership at the non-profit organizations, including FAES Foundation and Museo Nacional del Prado.[2]

Death and funeral

Pérez-Llorca died on 6 March 2019.[1] His funeral at the church of San Jerónimo el Real in Madrid was attended by King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and other leading figures, including Pío García-Escudero, Ana Pastor, Esperanza Aguirre, and Ana Botella.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Anabel Diez. Muere José Pedro Pérez-Llorca, uno de los padres de la Constitución, a los 78 años. 5 December 2021. El País. 6 March 2019. Madrid. es.
  2. News: José Pedro Pérez-Llorca is appointed new President of the Board of Trustees of the Museo del Prado. 23 April 2013. Museo del Prado. 26 October 2012. es.
  3. Web site: Board of Directors. IBERIA. 23 April 2013.
  4. James Casey. The Spanish Constitutional Court. Irish Jurist. 1990. 25-27. 27. 44026792.
  5. Book: R. Gillespie. Fernando Rodrigo. Jonathan Story. Democratic Spain: Reshaping External Relations in a Changing World. 1995. Fernando Rodrigo. https://books.google.com/books?id=JZLFJMJ6Jx0C&pg=PA53. Routledge. 978-0-415-11325-0. 53. London; New York. Western alignment: Spain's security policy.
  6. Book: Sebastian Balfour. Paul Preston. Spain and the Great Powers in the Twentieth Century. https://books.google.com/books?id=WcpDYhAteAgC&pg=PA254. 1999. Routledge. 978-0-415-18078-8. 254. London; New York. Angel Viñas. Breaking the shackles from the past: Spain foreign policy from Franco to Felipe González. Paul Preston.
  7. Małgorzata Mizerska-Wrotkowska. Impact of Spain's democratisation on its multilateral relations. 50–51. Reality of Politics. Estimates - Comments - Forecast. 2017. 8. 10.15804/rop201703. free.
  8. Shmuel Hadas. In the Shadow of Franco's Legacy: The Evolution of Israeli—Spanish Relations. Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs. 2009. 3. 2. 81. 10.1080/23739770.2009.11446371. 147323981 . Shmuel Hadas.
  9. News: Law firm Pérez-Llorca of Spain named Javier Fernández Cuenca partner. 23 April 2013. Attorneys. 7 March 2005. dead. https://archive.today/20130628170531/http://attorneys-law.com/law-firm-perez-llorca-of-spain-named-javier-fernandez-cuenca-partner/. 28 June 2013.
  10. Web site: Board of Directors. ICA Group. 23 April 2013.
  11. Web site: Appointment of the IAG Board Members. IAG. 23 April 2013.
  12. News: Los Reyes presiden el funeral en memoria de José Pedro Pérez-Llorca, uno de los padres de la Constitución española. Europa Press. 4 April 2019. es.