Santiago Abascal Escuza Explained

Santiago Abascal Escuza (30 October 1949 – 23 July 2017) was a Spanish politician.

Biography

Abascal was born in Amurrio, Álava. His father, Manuel Abascal Pardo, was the town's mayor during the Francoist Spain years.^[1] With his wife Isabel Conde Álvarez, he had three children. His son Santiago Abascal Conde became the leader of Vox, while Abascal Escuza's wife, daughter and sister-in-law were all candidates for the party too.^[2]

During the Spanish transition to democracy, he joined the Spanish National Union (UNE) in 1976, which merged into the People's Alliance (AP) two years later, before becoming the People's Party (PP). He served in Amurrio Town Hall, the Juntas Generales de Álava, and in the Congress of Deputies from April 2003 to 2004. He was targeted by ETA for his political activities, facing arson, vandalism and assassination attempts; he was protected by the Civil Guard and state security.^[3]

In 2013, he was named in the Bárcenas affair. He admitted that he was given €12,000 by the PP in 1999, but could not remember who gave it to him.^[4]

Abascal later joined Vox, the party led by his son. He was their lead candidate in the 2016 Basque regional election and was hospitalised during the campaign in September, due to illness.^[5] He remained in hospital in Galdakao until his death on 23 July 2017, aged 67.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: Abascal, el 'ex' del PP que lleva la extrema derecha a la política nacional. Abascal, the ex-PP member who is taking the far right to national politics . 25 February 2022 . . 3 December 2018 . Spanish.
2. News: La madre, tía y hermana de Santiago Abascal, en las listas de Vox a las generales. Santiago Abascal's mother, aunt and sister, on Vox's list for the general election. 25 February 2022 . . 28 March 2019 . Spanish.
3. News: Izarra . Josean . Fallece Santiago Abascal Escuza, el político alavés al que ETA y la izquierda abertzale no consiguieron callar. Santiago Abascal Escuza, the Álava politician who ETA and the Abertzale left could not shut up, dies . 25 February 2022 . . 23 July 2017 . Spanish.
4. News: Abascal confirma que recibió 12.000 euros del PP, pero no recuerda de quién. Abascal confirms that he received 12,000 euros from the PP, but can't remember from whom. 25 February 2022 . . 21 May 2013 . Spanish.
5. News: El candidato a lehendakari de VOX, Santiago Abascal, hospitalizado tras sentirse indispuesto. VOX's Lehendakari candidate, Santiago Abascal, hospitalised after feeling ill. 25 February 2022 . . 7 September 2016 . Spanish.
6. News: Muere Santiago Abascal tras un año hospitalizado . Santiago Abascal dies after a year in hospital. 25 February 2022 . . 23 July 2017 . Spanish.