Formal Complaint for Government Participation in Catholic Funeral of Former President

Country: Spain

Date of incident: May 20, 2008


Representatives of the United Left (Izquierda Unida Republicana) of Asturias released a public announcement where they condemned the participation of civil servants in the funeral in Madrid by „not being able to distinguish public functions from private life.“ They requested that a laity protocol be applied in the future.

The solemn memorial service for former Spanish President Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo was held at the Madrid Cathedral. Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela celebrated the service which was attended by the Royal Family, the current President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the former Presidents José María Aznar and Felipe González, as well as many other government officers, diplomats, and citizens, in total over 1,000 people. Sources: http://www.publico.es/espana/79452/los-reyes-presiden-el-funeral-
por-calvo-sotelo-junto-a-zapatero-aznar-y-gonzalez http://www.libertaddigital.com:6681/noticias/kw/calvo_sotelo/kw/noticia
_1276329902.html http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/cardenal/Rouco/destaca/
servicio/patria/Calvo-Sotelo/elpepuesp/20080508elpepunac_27/Tes http://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/20080508/nacional/reyes-presiden-funeral-estado-200805080821.html http://www.mhuel.org/anexos/asturias.pdf