NEWS

RITA BARBERÁ, EX-MAYOR OF VALENCIA, HAS DIED TODAY AT THE AGE OF 68

Today, 23th November 2016, Rita Barberá, ex-mayor of Valencia, has died of a heart attack at the age of 68, according to doctors. Doctors said they had tried to resuscitate her for half an hour, but it didn’t work out.

Rita Barberá had been the mayor of Valencia for 16 years in a row (since 1995 to 2011). While she was the mayor, both the City of Arts and Sciences and the Congress Centre were built. When she was voted out of the mayoral service, she took up a seat in the Spanish Senate.

Then, some months ago, she was accused of money-laundering during her term being the mayor of Valencia, as well as some other people of her team and the PP (Popular Party), but she denied it all. Most rival parties have criticized Barberá a lot, but PP members have always defended her. Even Mariano Rajoy, the president of Spain, has said Rita Barberá “gave everything for Valencia and the Popular Party”. Also, PP members accused those political rivals who criticized Barberá of causing her depression. 

The Podemos members leaving the parliament
during the minute of silence.

But, returning to the main point, Rita Barberá’s death has caused divided reactions. Even though all political leaders have shown their condolences to her family and friends, some of them refused to held one minute of silence in her honor in the parliament. One of these political parties is Podemos, and they have left their sits during this one minute of silence. They argue that they cannot participate in a political tribute to someone whose career is marked by corruption.

It says: "A minute of silence in Congress for the death of Rita Barbera is a tribute to her career. We refused and we left". Said by Alberto Garzón, leader of Izquierda Unida party.

PERSONAL OPINION:

Someone’s death is never a good thing so, even though I’m not a fan of the PP, Rita Barberá’s death has not been a good new. But, in regard to the minute of silence in the parliament, did she really deserve it? Does a corrupt person, which has made illegal business to make money, deserve a minute of silence? Well, that’s a question that you have to make to yourself. As far as I am concerned, I don’t want to get into in this type of political issues, so I’ll limit to give condolences to Rita Barberá’s family and friends.

NEW WORDS:

Amid: entre
Money-laundering: blanqueig de capitals
Vow: prometre


Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38075458