Antonio Masip Hidalgo
Encyclopedia
Antonio Masip Hidalgo is a Spanish
politician, lawyer and a Member of the European Parliament
for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
, part of the Socialist Group
. He sits on the European Parliament
's Committee on Legal Affairs
.
He is also a substitute for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
, a member of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council and a substitute for the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community.
He had been mayor of his hometown from 1983 to 1991 and regional congressman in Asturias
from 1983 to 1987. Masip has been involved in Spanish politics for about forty years, first against Franco
's dictatorship (being member of Frente de Liberación Popular
— "Felipe") and then being member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party since 1979.
He was one of the first lawyers in Asturias
to defend workers outside the Francoist vertical trade union
s in the early 1970s. In 1979 he defended the accused of the Holy Chamber's Jewels theft (during which traditional 10th century Asturian symbols like the Victory Cross, Angel's Cross and Agates' Box were stolen).
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
politician, lawyer and a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
, part of the Socialist Group
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
. He sits on the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
's Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Legal Affairs
The Committee on Legal Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.It is preparing many crucial decisions of the European Parliament. It met on 20 and 21 June 2005 and debated and voted on the Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions.-External links:*...
.
He is also a substitute for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is a standing committee of the European Parliament.-External links:*...
, a member of the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council and a substitute for the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community.
He had been mayor of his hometown from 1983 to 1991 and regional congressman in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
from 1983 to 1987. Masip has been involved in Spanish politics for about forty years, first against Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's dictatorship (being member of Frente de Liberación Popular
Popular Liberation Front (Spain)
The Popular Liberation Front was a clandestine anti-Francoist opposition group in Spain 1958-1969. FLP was founded by Julio Cerón. Amongst the personalities that joined FLP were José Luis Leal, Pasqual Maragall, José Pedro Pérez Llorca and Miguel Roca. FLP emerged as a response to the difficulties...
— "Felipe") and then being member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party since 1979.
He was one of the first lawyers in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
to defend workers outside the Francoist vertical trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s in the early 1970s. In 1979 he defended the accused of the Holy Chamber's Jewels theft (during which traditional 10th century Asturian symbols like the Victory Cross, Angel's Cross and Agates' Box were stolen).
Career
- since 1972: Practising lawyer
- 1997-2003: Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' PartySpanish Socialist Workers' PartyThe Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
in OviedoOviedoOviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city.... - 2000-2004: Member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Federal Committee
- 1983-1991: MayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of OviedoOviedoOviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city.... - 1982-1983: Minister for CultureCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and SportSportA Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
in the Regional Government of AsturiasAsturiasThe Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages... - 1983: Chairman of the Institute of Asturian Studies
- Vice-President of the Prince of Asturias Foundation
- 1982-1987: Member of the Asturian Regional Parliament
- Author of several books (including Oviedo al fondo, Desde mi ventana, De Oviedo a Salinas por el Eo and La sirenita y otros coletazos) and other works (including Indalecio Prieto y Oviedo, Apunte para un estudio de la Guerra Civil en Asturias, La última reunión del Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León, La autodeterminación del Sáhara Occidental, Alegaciones al Estatuto de Autonomía de Asturias, Asturias en las ediciones de 'Voyage au bout de la nuit' de Céline and El pintor Luis Fernández)