The minister’s gifts

Finance Minister Arcadi España placed an unusual gift at the seat of every regional representative attending the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council in Madrid: a book by a significant author from another Spanish territory.

The gesture was intended to convey the message that “understanding Spain is learning to look at it in plural.” Madrid received Miguel Ángel Hernández’s The Pain of Others, although regional minister Rocío Albert was absent and could not collect it.

Catalan minister Alícia Romero received People from the South and Other Writings on Andalusia by Manuel Chaves Nogales. España chose Catalan author Eduardo Mendoza for another gift, The City of Marvels, which ended up in the briefcase of Extremadura’s representative.

The Popular Party representatives thanked España for the gesture but said they would bring him a copy of the Constitution at the next meeting. In their view, the document that truly unites Spaniards is the Constitution.

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Understanding Spain is learning to look at it in plural.