The meeting, in full tension of the 'barons' for the reform of the Penal Code, serves to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the socialist victory of 1982

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Forty years and almost two months after the PSOE's historic victory in the 1982 elections , the old socialist guard reunited this Wednesday night at a dinner in Madrid. The meeting had not been publicized, but media photographers such as El Confidencial or El Español they captured the arrival of ex-president Felipe González, his first vice-president, Alfonso Guerra, and up to forty ex-ministers of the PSOE at the door of the famous La Manduca de Azagra restaurant, on Carrer Sagasta. Despite the coincidence with the clash in Congress over the reform of the Penal Code and the criticism of the socialist barons to Pedro Sánchez for the concessions to independence, sources present at the meeting explain to ARA that there was no political intent. "It was a dinner with friends," they say. A reunion four decades after the socialists came to power.


The photographs outside the restaurant bear witness to the presence of the former head of Interior José Barrionuevo – at the center of the controversy for his justifications about the GALs– and José Luis Corcuera, from Carlos Solchaga (Industry and, later, Economy), Javier Solana (Exteriors) or Pedro Solbes (Agriculture and Economy). Also there was the former Minister of Territorial Policy and former Andalusian president now convicted by the ERO Manuel Chaves, unlike his successor in the Junta and ex-head of Labor Manuel Griñán, who is facing prison terms for the same corruption case. The Catalan note was given by Narcís Serra, ex-vice president and ex-Minister of Defence, and Joan Majó (Industry), while the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs and now head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, was absent. He did attend the appointment, on the other hand, another of the Spanish socialists with the longest career in Europe, Joaquín Almúnia, former Minister of Labor and also of Public Administrations.



At the dinner, organized by the foreign spokeswoman for the Spanish government Rosa Conde, all those who shared the council of ministers with González were invited and "practically no one failed", confirms one of the attendees. Thirty-nine diners at a meal that started after 9 p.m. with an initial speech by the former Spanish president, lasting less than ten minutes, and ending at midnight. The former leader of the PSOE thanked everyone present for their contribution during the fourteen years at the head of Moncloa and praised the role of the socialists during that period. "We should not brag about it, but thank the whole country for it," he said. According to the sources consulted, the only reference González made to the current moment was when he claimed the open attitude of the opposition during their governments and the predisposition they had for consensus. A veiled dart at the current position of the PP and the obstacles to the renewal of the judiciary.


Allowing for the private conversations during the dinner, then, the meeting was not intended to start any conspiracy against the government of Pedro Sánchez. It did, however, help Guerra participate in the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of that first victory, after he was not invited to the official meeting organized by the party at the end of October. Also so that he could sit down again with González, with whom he confronted internally for many years but who, like him, would end up leaning towards increasingly Spanish nationalist positions and wary of theSanchism The menu of the day, however, was different, also in the dishes: asparagus, leeks and artichokes in the starters; hake with vegetables or a pork dish to choose from, seconds, and various sweets for dessert. All washed down with white and red wine and, according to El Español , for 68 euros. "He ate very well there," explains one of those present.


La Manduca de Azagra, the restaurant where there was no table for the emeritus


The restaurant La Manduca de Azagra, with Navarre cuisine, is a regular in the Madrid capital for politicians, journalists and personalities of all kinds. Artists such as Joan Manuel Serrat or Lou Reed, footballers such as Zinedine Zidane and Xabi Alonso, directors and actors such as Pedro Almodóvar and Richard Gere and writers such as Paul Auster have passed through its tables. It was not the first time that González had been there, nor was Solana, who when he was in charge of European diplomacy took the opportunity to use the local telephone and, between calls, ended up taking note of some reservations, according to an article on the place. Maybe because I knew that it is not always easy to find a table in a place where, according to other reviews, everyone is treated equally. Even King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, who on one occasion had to back down because the restaurant was full and the owners did not want to cancel a regular customer, as journalist Antonio Hernández Rodicio explains .