Miguel Ángel Blanco: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Spanish economist and municipal politician (1968–1997)}}

'''Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido''' ([[13 May]], [[1968]] – [[13 July]], [[1997]]) was a local politician in [[Ermua]] ([[Biscay]]), on the [[Basque autonomous community]] ([[Spain]]) for the [[Partido Popular]].

{{family name hatnote|Blanco|Garrido|lang=Spanish}}

{{sources|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

[[ca:|name = Miguel Ángel Blanco]]

|image = Busto de Miguel Ángel Blanco en los jardines a los que da nombre en Madrid.jpg

|image_upright = 0.9

|alt =

|caption = Miguel Angel Blanco bust in the gardens bearing his name in Madrid

|office = Councillor in [[Ermua]]

|term_start = 28 May 1995

|term_end = 13 July 1997

|predecessor =

|successor =

[[es:|birthname = Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido]]

|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1968|05|13}}

|birth_place = [[Ermua]], [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], Spain

|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1997|07|13|1968|05|13}}

|death_place = {{nowrap|[[Lasarte-Oria]], Basque Country,}} Spain

|death_cause = [[Assassination]] by [[firearm]]

|restingplace = [[A Merca]] cemetery

|restingplacecoordinates =

|party = [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]]

|otherparty =

|spouse =

|partner = María del Mar Díaz

|relations = [[María del Mar Blanco]] (sister)

|children =

|residence =

|alma_mater = [[University of the Basque Country]]

|occupation =

|profession =

|cabinet =

|committees =

|portfolio =

|religion =

|signature =

|signature_alt =

|website =

|footnotes =

}}

'''Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido''' (13 May 1968 – 13 July 1997) was a [[Spain|Spanish]] economist and [[Municipality|municipal]] politician and a member of the [[Popular Party (Spain)|People's Party]], in [[Ermua]], the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]]. He was kidnapped and murdered by the Basque separatist group [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]].

==Biography ==

On [[10 July]], [[1997]], Blanco was kidnapped by [[ETA]] which threatened to assassinate him unless the Spanish Government transferred all [[ETA]] prisoners to prisons in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] within 48 hours. As soon as the ultimatum expired on [[12 July]] he was shot in the back of the head. His kidnapping and brutal murder caused a huge outpouring of grief in [[Spain]] and beyond, after his body was found with his hands tied behind his back and two bullets in his head.

===Early life===

He was actually not found dead, although he was shot twice in the head he managed to live for approximately another 12 hours, but eventually succumbed to his fatal injuries.

Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido was born on 13 May 1968 in [[Ermua]] ([[Biscay]]) into a humble family. He had a sister, [[María del Mar Blanco|María del Mar]]. His father, Miguel Blanco, was a construction worker and his mother, Consuelo Garrido, was a housewife. They were [[Galician people|Galician]] immigrants from [[Xunqueira de Espadanedo]] ([[Province of Ourense|Ourense]], [[Galicia, Spain|Galicia]]). Consuelo died on 1 April 2020 from [[coronavirus]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-muere-consuelo-garrido-madre-miguel-angel-blanco-causa-coronavirus-202004011136_noticia.html |title=Muere Consuelo Garrido, la madre de Miguel Ángel Blanco, a causa del coronavirus |date=1 April 2020 |access-date=6 July 2020 |newspaper=[[ABC (Spain)|ABC]] |publisher=[[Vocento]] |language=es |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223601/https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-muere-consuelo-garrido-madre-miguel-angel-blanco-causa-coronavirus-202004011136_noticia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> three weeks after her husband's death.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200312/474102833068/muere-miguel-blanco-padre-miguel-angel-blanco-asesinado-eta.html |title=Muere el padre de Miguel Ángel Blanco, asesinado por ETA en 1997 |author=Europa Press |agency=Europa Press |date=12 March 2020 |access-date=6 July 2020 |newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]] |language=es |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707124449/https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200312/474102833068/muere-miguel-blanco-padre-miguel-angel-blanco-asesinado-eta.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Miguel Ángel Blanco was licencedgraduated in Economicseconomics byat the [[Euskal Herriko UnibertistateaUnibertsitatea]] onin [[Sarriko]] ([[Bilbao]]). For a long time he worked with his father in construction, but he found work at ''Eman Consulting'', onin [[Eibar]], where he commuted to every day by train. He also played the drums in the bands Póker and Cañaveral. He was a sports fan and his dream was to walk to [[Madrid]] to protest against the possible falling outclosure of the Ermua' sports centre. He joined the youth-wing of the People's Party, [[Nuevas Generaciones]], in 1995 and, due to it being a relatively small party in the area where the national parties compete against the [[Basque Nationalist Party|PNV]], he was the third candidate for the municipal elections in that year. Nevertheless, under the proportional system, he won enough votes to become a member of the town's council.

==Biography ==

===Kidnapping and death===

Miguel Angel Blanco was born on 13rd may, 1968 [[Ermua]] ([[Biscay]]) into a humble family. He had a sister, María del Mar. His father, Miguel Blanco, was a building worker and his mother, Consuelo Garrido, was a housewife. They were immigrants from Xunqueira do Espadoñedo (Ourense - Galicia).

On 10 July 1997, Blanco was kidnapped by [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]] on his way to see a client. They threatened to assassinate him unless the Spanish Government started transferring all ETA prisoners to prisons in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] within 48 hours. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in demonstrations throughout Spain, demanding his release, but 50 minutes after the deadline expired, at 16:50 on 12 July, he was shot in the back of the head.<ref name=ABCespecial>{{cite news |last=Viana |first=Israel |title=Todos los atentados de la banda terrorista: Miguel Ángel Blanco |url=http://www.abc.es/especiales/eta/atentados/11.asp |work=ETA, medio siglo de terror |publisher=[[ABC (Spain)|ABC]] |access-date=24 February 2011 |language=es |year=2010 |archive-date=24 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003545/http://www.abc.es/especiales/eta/atentados/11.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly thereafter, he was found on the outskirts of [[San Sebastián]], with his hands tied, dying.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marín |first=Maribel |title=ETA abandona a Blanco con dos tiros en la cabeza tras desoír el clamor de los ciudadanos |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1997/07/13/espana/868744825_850215.html |access-date=24 February 2011 |newspaper=[[El País]] |date=13 July 1997 |language=es |___location=San Sebastián |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417232141/https://elpais.com/diario/1997/07/13/espana/868744825_850215.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He died in the hospital at 4:30 a.m. on 13 July. He is interred in Faramontaos, [[A Merca]], with his parents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20200617/miguel-chelo-padres-angel-blanco-descansaran-junto/498201343_0.html |title=Miguel y Chelo, los padres de Miguel Ángel Blanco, descansarán por fin junto a su hijo tras 23 años |first=Andros |last=Lozano |date=17 June 2020 |access-date=6 July 2020 |newspaper=[[El Español]] |language=es |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705230708/https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20200617/miguel-chelo-padres-angel-blanco-descansaran-junto/498201343_0.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Repercussions===

Miguel Ángel Blanco was licenced in Economics by the [[Euskal Herriko Unibertistatea]] on [[Sarriko]] ([[Bilbao]]). For a long time he worked with his father in construction, but he found work at ''Eman Consulting'', on [[Eibar]], where he commuted every day by train. He also played the drums in the bands Póker and Cañaveral. He was a sports fan and his dream was to walk to [[Madrid]] to protest against the possible falling out of the Ermua' sports centre.

Blanco's kidnapping and death had a deep social impact throughout Spain, including the Basque country, and, in an unprecedented move, even some of ETA's own supporters publicly condemned the killing.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is Eta? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11183574 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=24 February 2011 |date=5 September 2010 |publisher=[[BBC]] |archive-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113064206/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11183574 |url-status=live }}</ref> The "Spirit of Ermua" was born at this time as was the anti-terrorist organization [[Foro Ermua|Foro de Ermua]] and the Fundación Miguel Ángel Blanco.

2006 saw the beginning of the trial of his kidnappers and murderers, [[Francisco Javier García Gaztelu,]] ("Txapote") and his girlfriend, Irantzu Gallastegi, ("Amaia"). Another kidnapper, José Luis Geresta Mujika, committed suicide two years after Blanco's murder.<ref name=ABCespecial />

He joined [[Nuevas Generaciones]] of [[PP]] in [[1995]], and due to it being a relatively small party, he was the third candidate for the municipal elections in this year.

==See also==

He had a girlfriend, Marimar, and they were engaged to be married in September of [[1997]].

*[[List of kidnappings]]

*[[List of solved missing person cases]]

==Repercussions References ==

{{Reflist}}

; General

His kidnapping and death were very important to the Spanish society. The [["Ermua Spirit"]] was born at this time, and so was an antiterrorist organization.

* This article makes use of material translated from the [[:es:Miguel Ángel Blanco|corresponding article]] in the Spanish-language Wikipedia.

2006 saw the beginning of the trial of his kidnappers and murderers, Francisco Javier García Gaztelu, "Txapote" and his girlfriend, Irantzu Gallastegi, "Amaia".

* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926100702/http://www.fmiguelangelblanco.es/miguelangelblanco.php Biography of Miguel Ángel Blanco in the ''Fundación Miguel Ángel Blanco'' webpage]

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Authority control}}

==External links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanco, Miguel Angel}}

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9982888 Photo]

[[Category:1968 births]]

* [http://www.fmiguelangelblanco.com Miguel Ángel Blanco's fundation]

[[Category:1997 deaths]]

[[Category:19681997 births|Blanco,murders Miguelin ÁngelSpain]]

[[Category:1997People deaths|Blanco,from Miguel ÁngelErmua]]

[[Category:AssassinatedPeople's politicians|Blanco,Party Miguel(Spain) Ángelpoliticians]]

[[Category:Politicians from the Basque politicians|Blanco,Country Miguel(autonomous Ángelcommunity)]]

[[Category:ETAAssassinated murderSpanish victims|Blanco, Miguel Angelpoliticians]]

[[Category:DeathsPeople killed by firearm|Blanco,ETA Miguel(separatist Ángelgroup)]]

[[Category:SpanishDeaths politicians|Blanco,by Miguelfirearm Ángelin Spain]]

[[Category:People murdered in Spain]]

[[Category:University of the Basque Country alumni]]

[[Category:Spanish terrorism victims]]

{{Spain-politician-stub}}

[[Category:Kidnapped Spanish people]]

{{paramilitary-action-stub}}

[[Category:Politicians assassinated in 1997]]

[[Category:Assassinated councillors]]

[[ca:Miguel Ángel Blanco]]

[[es:Miguel Ángel Blanco Garrido]]

[[eu:Miguel Angel Blanco]]

[[fr:Miguel Angel Blanco]]