Interview to José María Aznar in XL Semanal [03.11.13] “If I Wanted to Challenge Someone, I Would Do It

José María Aznar Interviews Interview to José María Aznar in XL Semanal [03.11.13] “If I wanted to challenge someone, I would do it. If I wanted to come back, I would be back” XL Semanal | Madrid, 03/11/2013 El compromiso del poder (Editorial Planeta) it is the second and last volume of the juicy political memoirs of José María Aznar, which comes out November 7. We took an appointment at his office in FAES to discuss about this book focused on the eight years he presided the Popular Government (1996‐2004). But today we also talk about current politics: of ‘Bárcenas case’, of his concern about the independent draft in Catalonia, about his relations with Mariano Rajoy or about Ana Botella’s speech pronounced in English to defend the Olympic Candidature for Madrid. This time he comes by himself, he has left Sam at home, the Labrador with which he posed a few years ago for our magazine. But, as an exchange, he has brought us halve a dozen of his so enigmatic, forbidden and powerful famous blue notebooks. XL Semanal: It should be required to all Heads of Government that after a prudential time to publish their memoirs with much detail as possible. José María Aznar: It is assumed that there might be interesting things to say. In many countries there is a tradition on doing so. Almost all American presidents do it on the first year, others take longer and others do not. XL: Have you bitten quite the tongue? I am asking this because I see little internal criticism and no political gossip. J.M.A.: It is because I am not nosy. I like that that the Story is known as it is and the story goes beyond gossip. Truth is I am not interested at all in gossip. XL: I am thinking on the recent memoirs of José Bono, Alfonso Guerra…both full of surprises. Is the left more uninhibited, more outspoken? J.M.A.: Usually yes, but above all, the left t has less historical sense. XL: The last chapter of the book talks about the famous blue notebooks, that not only they really exist but there are a lot of them and of different sizes. J.M.A.: Of course they exist! Look at them! [He shows me some of them, all full of post its]. I keep them in a safe. There are two different sizes: the small ones I used them as diaries, and the big ones [folio size] in which I have been writing comments and notes. They are sort of like a personal development of my agenda. XL: Have you been offered a fortune for its publishing? Interview in XL Semanal José María Aznar Interviews J.M.A. : Yes [he smiles as he picks them up to put them away], but they are never getting published. XL: In this second part of your biography it is missed a reference to your daughter’s wedding, Ana, at the monastery of El Escorial, an event that caused a deluge of articles. J.M.A.: The book is about a time in the history of the Spanish life, and the wedding of my daughter I see it from a purely personal and particular point of view. I was a parent whose daughter was married in the same place where many other people’s children get married, although I admit that my situation was a bit special because she was the daughter of the President, but that was a condition that neither she, nor I, nor anyone else could avoid… XL: Yes, it was all very special, guests also... J.M.A.: They were my friends. Well, some were my friends and others were friends of others. XL: If at that time the criticism focused on the characteristics of the celebration, years later they concentrated on the wedding guests who were charged in the Gürtel case. J.M.A.: [Resounding]. Those where exactly the ones I did not knew. XL: Also missing in the 350 pages of the book a citation to Esperanza Aguirre and Alberto Ruiz‐Gallardón, even though you thank dozens of contributors. J.M.A.: The book deals with some stages of the Government and it cannot deal with everything because it would be endless. Furthermore, in the first volume of my memoirs, when the history of the party is being told, it’s spoken of Alberto Ruiz‐Gallardón and when some things have to do with Culture Esperanza Aguirre is mentioned... XL: A trick question: the absence of any reference to whom was Minister Esperanza Aguirre, President of the Senate and president of Community under your government, does not have anything to do with the increasingly strained relations maintained for some time with the mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella? J.M.A.: No, no; the Aguirre family and the Aznar family have been friends for many years and that relationship continues, the rest is part of the gossip. XL: Ten years ago you wondered how the PSOE could defend self‐determination in Catalonia, Andalusia federalism and autonomy model in Castile‐La Mancha, Castile and Leon... J.M.A.: That after ten years we continue asking the same denotes the deep crisis which is engulfing an important part of the left. That left in Spain is lacking of political architecture because it’s lacking of intellectual architecture, that is why it continues with the same problems and the same historical vices as always. Interview in XL Semanal José María Aznar Interviews XL: You remark in your memoirs four trusted men who you appreciate for their extraordinary work: Javier Arenas, Rodrigo Rato, Francisco Alvarez‐Cascos and Mariano Rajoy. How do you see the current situation of the first three? J.M.A.: The four of them, along with Jaime Mayor, have been essential key parts in the transformation of the Popular Party. I can only have gratitude and appreciation for them because they did an excellent job, both in the Party and in government. They are first‐rate politicians. XL: I insist: How do you see Cascos out of the PP; Rato while after its way through Bankia and Arenas again in Madrid ... with what it might happen? J.M.A.: Everyone answers for his life and his actions, of what he does and what does not. I wish them all the best, but if you ask me for the actions they took at that time, I only have words of gratitude. XL: Be honest. How is your relationship with Mariano Rajoy? J.M.A.: I try to disturb Mariano Rajoy as little as possible. I never called the presidents, unless it is an exceptional thing, and to ministers I also try to disturb them as little as possible. I hate to bother. XL: But you bother, and a lot, without having to call them on the phone ... You just have to see the political turmoil that you create every time you speak. J.M.A.: If I have something to say, I say it and Mariano Rajoy, who is the current President, knows very well what I think. XL: Surely there is more than one who does not feel comfortable with hearing you say with a certain frequency that you would have done things differently. J.M.A.: I am not in combative politics. I give some ideas to try to solve the problems which the country is facing .Right now , there is a proposal for secession of great magnitude against Spain, involving a breakdown of the constitutional pact, a breakdown of cohabitation between Spanish inhabitants and that it is the biggest challenge we've had in a very long time. That needs to be explained and we have to know how to deal with it, because it should and must, and, moreover, can, and also it should and must be won. Spain is not going to break, but some people will lead Catalonia to disaster, and that must also be avoided. XL: What do you think is not being done well from the Government in regard to Catalonia? J.M.A.: This is a very serious national situation and what I am saying is that it’s the Governments duty to lead it. It is not enough that the Government is an ally of anyone who is faced with the secessionist position. XL: What about the economic crisis? Interview in XL Semanal José María Aznar Interviews J.M.A.: Whenever I am asked about it, I always say that I am not in favor of that raise taxes because Spain needs a recovery of its operations, and raise taxes restrings it and it is not levied what is expected. And besides, in my judgment, the burden increasingly affects the middle class, which does not facilitate or speeds recovery. When I was in power, taxes were lowered several times. XL: When you were in power, the crisis had other characteristics we were not yet in the euro, at the discretion of Germany for the huge debt. J.M.A.: Let's see. If you had asked me what had to be the general response to the crisis that erupted from the years 2008 and 2009, I would have given a different answer. The crisis will not be solved with more regulation and more taxes ... No, instead, what is most needed is more liberalization, more opening, less taxes ... That was the answer and that is still the answer. XL: You look very disappointed with the Government's action and very critical with the famous 'days' of Rajoy. J.M.A.: Well, the Spanish people are the ones who will judge him.

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