Former Spanish Foreign Minister and Popular Party (PP) activist Josep Piqué died on Thursday at the age of 68 at the 12 de Octubre hospital in Madrid, following a long illness, announced the PP.
Born in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) in 1955, graduated in economics and law, Josep Piqué was president of the chemical company Ercros before being recruited in 1996 to occupy the portfolios of industry and energy in the Spanish government (1996-2000), of which he was also the spokesperson, first as an independent, then as a militant of the PP.
He then became Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2002) and Minister of Science (2002-2003).
As Minister of Industry, he was responsible for carrying out the privatization of some of the most important public companies, such as Repsol, Telefónica and Endesa, initiated by the government of Felipe González.
Pique chaired the Catalan PP during the status debate and was the party’s candidate for the presidency of the Catalan regional government in the 2003 and 2006 elections, after which the PP became the fourth political force in this autonomous community.
With MAP
