The Diplomat. Madrid
The name José Manuel García-Margallo can be found with increasing frequency among hypothetical PP candidatures for municipal and autonomic elections next spring. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was first mentioned as a possible candidate to the Government of the Comunidad Valenciana, with which he has always had very close ties and where he spends a lot of time. His base of operations, during the summer, is usually situated in Jávea, Alicante.
Now his name is also being put in the ring, by some media, to compete for the Madrid Mayoralty when Ana Botella steps down. It is the city of his birth and he could be a good alternative, in the case that Mariano Rajoy does not choose one of the three women that currently stand as first option: Esperanza Aguirre, Cristina Cifuentes or Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.
At 70 years old, García-Margallo is, after three years, one of the most valued ministers in the government and, as well as carrying out is duties as Foreign Minister, he has been very active in underscoring the negative consequences that Catalonia’s separation from Spain would have here and abroad.
