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{{short description|Spanish politician (1955–2023)}}
{{Short description|Spanish politician (1955–2023)}}
{{family name hatnote|Piqué|Camps|lang=Spanish}}
{{Family name hatnote|Piqué|Camps|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
[[File:Josep Piqué en 2008.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Piqué in 2008]]
| name = Josep Piqué
'''Josep Piqué i Camps''' (21 February 1955 – 6 April 2023) was a Spanish politician of the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP). He served in ministerial departments under the Aznar cabinets, including a spell as foreign minister from 2000 to 2002. He also helmed the [[People's Party of Catalonia]] from 2003 to 2007.
| honorific_suffix =
| honorific_prefix =
| image = Josep Piqué en 2008.jpg
| caption = Piqué in 2008
| order =
| office = [[Ministry of Science (Spain)|Minister of Science and Technology]]
| monarch = [[Juan Carlos I]]
| primeminister = [[José María Aznar]]
| term_start = 10 July 2002
| term_end = 3 September 2003
| predecessor = [[Anna Birulés]]
| successor = [[Juan Costa]]
| office2 = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| order2 =
| monarch2 = Juan Carlos I
| predecessor2 = [[Abel Matutes]]
| primeminister2 = José María Aznar
| termstart2 = 27 April 2000
| term_end2 = 10 July 2002
| successor2 = [[Ana Palacio]]
| office3 = [[Spokesperson of the Government of Spain|Spokesperson of the Government]]
| term_start3 = 16 July 1998
| term_end3 = 27 April 2000
| predecessor3 = [[Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Bajón]]
| successor3 = [[Pío Cabanillas Alonso]]
| primeminister3 = José María Aznar
| monarch3 = Juan Carlos I
| office4 = [[Ministry of Industry (Spain)|Minister of Industry and Energy]]
| order4 =
| monarch4 = Juan Carlos I
| predecessor4 = [[Juan Manuel Eguiagaray]]
| primeminister4 = José María Aznar
| termstart4 = 6 May 1996
| term_end4 = 27 April 2000
| successor4 = {{ubl|[[Rodrigo Rato]] (Economy)|Anna Birulés {{awrap|(Science and Technology)}}}}
| office5 = [[People's Party of Catalonia|President of People's Party of Catalonia]]
| predecessor5 = [[Alberto Fernández Díaz]]
| successor5 = [[Daniel Sirera]]
| term_start5 = 19 October 2002
| term_end5 = 19 July 2007
| birthname = Josep Piqué Camps
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1955|2|21}}
| birth_place = [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]], Spain
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|4|6|1955|2|21}}
| death_place = [[Madrid]], Spain
| alma_mater = [[University of Barcelona]]
| awards =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Gloria Lomana]]|2009}}
| party = [[People's Party of Catalonia|PPC]]
| otherparty = {{ubl|[[Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag)|Red Flag]]|[[PSUC]]|[[Independent politician|Independent]]}}
}}

'''Josep Piqué Camps''' (21 February 1955 – 6 April 2023) was a Spanish politician of the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP). He served in ministerial departments under the [[José María Aznar]] government. He also helmed the [[People's Party of Catalonia]] from 2003 to 2007.

== Early life ==
Piqué was born on 21 February 1955 in [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]], [[province of Barcelona]], the son of local politician [[:es:José Piqué Tetas|José Piqué Tetas]].<ref name="publico">{{Cite news|url=https://www.publico.es/politica/pique-antifranquismo-juvenil-abrazar-aznarismo-final.html|title=Piqué, del antifranquismo juvenil a abrazar el aznarismo hasta el final
|date=6 April 2023|work=[[Público (Spain)|Público]]|first=Marc|last=Font}}</ref><ref name="20mins">{{Cite news|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5116666/0/josep-pique-el-economista-y-ministro-de-aznar-que-intento-el-giro-catalanista-del-pp-en-los-tiempos-de-pujol/|title=Josep Piqué, el economista y ministro de Aznar que intentó el giro catalanista del PP en los tiempos de Pujol
|date=6 April 2023|work=[[20 minutos]]}}</ref> He earned a doctorate in Business and Economics and a Law degree from the [[University of Barcelona]].<ref name=publico />


==Political career==
==Political career==
=== Early career ===
===Early years===
In his youth, Piqué was a member of extreme left organization [[Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag)|Red Flag]], similarly to future fellow PP ministers [[Pilar del Castillo]] and [[Anna Birulés]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/espana/mutaciones-ideologicas.html|website=[[Público (Spain)|Público]]|date=2 February 2008|first=Gonzalo|last=López Alba|title=Mutaciones ideológicas}}</ref> Piqué also was a member of the [[Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia]] (PSUC).<ref name="LV">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Muere el exministro Josep Piqué a los 68 años |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20230406/8881012/josep-pique-muerte.html |access-date=6 April 2023 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> Between 1986 and 1988, Piqué served as Director General of Industry under the [[Convergence and Union]] government of Catalonia.<ref name="LV" />
In his youth, and during the last years of the [[Francisco Franco|Franco]]'s dictatorship Piqué was a member of extreme left organization [[Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag)|Red Flag]], and the [[Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publico.es/espana/mutaciones-ideologicas.html|website=[[Público (Spain)|Público]]|date=2 February 2008|first=Gonzalo|last=López Alba|title=Mutaciones ideológicas}}</ref><ref name="LV">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Muere el exministro Josep Piqué a los 68 años |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20230406/8881012/josep-pique-muerte.html |access-date=6 April 2023 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref>


Piqué was professor at the University of Barcelona between 1978 and 1986, being the tenured professor of Economic Theory from 1984 to 1986.<ref name="eco">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Josep Piqué, más allá del político y empresario: un hombre analítico que sabía ganarse a la gente|first1=Xavier|last1=Alegret|first2=Rut|last2=Font Camats|url=https://www.economiadigital.es/politica/josep-pique-perfil.html|website=Economía Digital |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Ha mort Josep Piqué, alumni i antic professor de la Facultat|url=https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/economia-empresa/detall/-/detall/ha-mort-josep-pique-alumni-i-antic-professor-de-la-facultat|website=University of Barcelona|language=ca}}</ref> That year, Piqué was named by [[President of Catalonia|Catalan president]] [[Jordi Pujol]], Director General of Industry, an office he held until 1988 when returned to the private sector.<ref name="LV" /><ref name=publico />
===People's Party ===
After the People's Party election in 1996, Piqué was appointed [[Minister of Industry (Spain)|Spanish Minister for Industry]] as an independent member. He served as Spain's [[foreign minister]] from 2000 to 2002. In this capacity, he steered Spain’s foreign policy during its six-month [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]].<ref name="politico.eu">Martin Banks (10 July 2002), [http://www.politico.eu/article/delighted-palacio-lands-top-job-and-quits-as-mep/ ‘Delighted’ Palacio lands top job and quits as MEP] ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref> As part of a cabinet reshuffle, he was replaced by [[Ana de Palacio y del Valle-Lersundi]] and instead took over the [[Ministry of Science (Spain)|Ministry of Science and Technology]], which oversees the telecommunications industry. At the time, he was thought to have paid the price for failing to resolve the protracted dispute with the UK over the future of [[Gibraltar]].<ref name="politico.eu"/>


===Minister of Industry and Energy: 1996–2000===
In October 2002, Piqué became the president of the [[People's Party of Catalonia]]. He resigned from this position in July 2007 after disagreement over the political direction that the central PP wanted to impose over the regional branch.<ref name="LV" /><ref>[http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2486884&p_edi=badia vilaweb.cat]</ref> He served as member of the [[Congress of Deputies]] as Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000–2002) and Minister of Science and Technology (2002–2003),<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=6 April 2023 |title=Muere el exministro Josep Piqué a los 68 años |url=https://www.revistavanityfair.es/articulos/muere-el-exministro-josep-pique-a-los-68-anos |access-date=6 April 2023 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=es-ES}}</ref> when he was elected to the [[Parliament of Catalonia]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2021 |title=One-on-One with Josep PiquéView |url=https://www.investkorea.org/ik-en/bbs/i-468/detail.do?ntt_sn=490763 |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Invest Korea |language=en}}</ref>
In view of the [[1996 Spanish general election|1996 general elections]], the leader of the [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) and of the opposition [[José María Aznar]] wanted to improve his image in Catalonia and get closer to the business community and the Catalan bourgeoisie as it was a decisive territory in electoral terms.<ref name=publico /> So in 1995, through the president of the Catalan employers' association {{ill|Foment del Treball|es}} [[Joan Rossell]], he contacted Josep Piqué.<ref name=publico />


[[File:2000-03-12, Josep Piqué y el ministro del Interior en la presentación de los resultados de las elecciones generales del 2000.jpg|thumb|left|Piqué and Minister of the Interior [[Jaime Mayor Oreja]](left) in 2000]]
== Post-political career ==
After the electoral victory of the PP, José María Aznar, already as [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]], appointed him [[Ministry of Industry (Spain)|Minister of Industry and Energy]] as an independent politician on 5 May 1996, and was sworn the following day.<ref>[https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1996/05/06/pdfs/A15709-15709.pdf REAL DECRETO 762/1996, de 5 de mayo, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobiemo.] {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>[https://www.libertaddigital.com/cultura/historia/2016-02-27/gobierno-aznar-1996-1941316/ Gabinete de Aznar en 1996] {{in lang|es}}</ref> His main objective as minister, Piqué remarked that day, would be the reorganization of public enterprise, without ruling out privatization, in order to reduce the public deficit. He also referred to the reorganization of the electricity sector.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 1996|title=Reordenar la empresa pública, objetivo de Piqué en Industria
Between November 2007 and 2013, Piqué served as [[chairman]] of [[low-cost carrier]] [[Vueling Airlines]].<ref name="Cesur" /> In November 2008, Piqué was co-chair of the [[Global China Business Meeting]] 2008 in [[Madrid]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/business/worldbusiness/18iht-yuan.4.17940278.html Emerging nations seen as economic lifesavers] New York Times, 18 November 2008</ref> From November 2008 until June 2009, Piqué served as member of a six-member panel of EU experts advising the Bulgarian government. Set up by Bulgaria's Prime Minister [[Sergei Stanishev]], the advisory board was chaired by [[Dominique de Villepin]] and mandated to recommend ways to help the country adjust to [[Member state of the European Union|EU membership]].<ref>Tony Barber (21 June 2009), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/14e6a054-758d-11de-9ed5-00144feabdc0.html Bulgaria risks shifting into Moscow's orbit, EU is told] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> In addition, Piqué served on the Political Sponsorship Committee of the Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED).<ref>[http://www.ipemed.coop/en/ipemed-r21/ipemeds-governance-c71/ Governance] Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED), Paris.</ref>
|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/07/espana/831420011_850215.html|work=[[El País]]|language=es}}</ref>


Piqué was responsible for the privatizations of large public companies such as [[Repsol]], [[Telefónica]], [[Endesa]] and [[Aceralia]].<ref name=20mins />
In 2009 he launched ''Pangea21 Consultora Internacional'', a small firm in Barcelona to provide consulting services and management advice in all kinds of international business.<ref name="Cesur">{{Cite web |title=Almuerzo privado para socios con Josep Piqué |url=https://www.cesur.org.es/almuerzo-provado-con-josep-pique |access-date=6 April 2023 |website=Cesur |language=es}}</ref> Piqué was appointed member of the Board of Directors of [[Amadeus IT Group]] in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2019-06-19/amadeus-junta-accionistas-josep-pique_2078464/|title=Amadeus nombra consejero independiente al exministro popular Josep Piqué|date=19 June 2019|publisher=[[El Confidencial]]}}</ref>


On 15 July 1998 he was appointed [[Spokesperson of the Government of Spain|Spokesperson of the Government]] after rising as one of Aznar's most trusted men.<ref>[https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1998-16940 Real Decreto 1555/1998, de 15 de julio, por el que se dispone que don Josep Piqué i Camps, Ministro de Industria y Energía, asuma las funciones de Portavoz del Gobierno.] {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref name=publico />
== Personal life ==
Piqué was born on 21 February 1955.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josep Piqué Camps: "It is a mistake to feed the feeling of failure of the European Union" |url=https://atalayar.com/en/content/josep-piqu%C3%A9-camps-it-mistake-feed-feeling-failure-european-union |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Atalayar |language=en}}</ref> In 2009, he married journalist [[Gloria Lomana]].<ref name="epe">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Muere a los 68 años Josep Piqué, ministro en los gobiernos de Aznar |url=https://www.epe.es/es/actualidad/20230406/josep-pique-muere-68-anos-ministro-aznar-85696005 |website=El Periódico de España |publisher=[[Prensa Ibérica]]}}</ref> Piqué died at [[Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre|Hospital 12 de Octubre]] on 6 April 2023, at the age of 68.<ref name="epe" />


In January 1999, he joined the People's Party, taking a place in its National Executive Committee. .<ref name=20mins />
==References==
{{Reflist}}


===Minister of Foreign Affairs: 2000–2002===
== External links ==
In the [[2000 Spanish general election|2000 general elections]], Piqué became member of the [[Congress of Deputies]] for the province of Barcelona.<ref name=20mins />

Aznar appointed him, on 27 April, as the new [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], stepping down from the two previous positions he held.<ref>[https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2000/04/28/pdfs/A16448-16448.pdf REAL DECRETO 561/2000, de 27 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno.] {{in lang|es}}</ref>

In this capacity, he also steered Spain's foreign policy during its six-month [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]].<ref name="politico.eu">Martin Banks (10 July 2002), [http://www.politico.eu/article/delighted-palacio-lands-top-job-and-quits-as-mep/ 'Delighted' Palacio lands top job and quits as MEP] ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref>

Piqué maintained a clear [[Atlanticism|atlanticist]] stance and defended Spain's coalition with the U.S. government that precipitated the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref name=publico /> In 2006 he admitted "very serious mistakes" in the invasion, although he added that the existence of weapons of mass destruction was a conviction shared by everyone.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 September 2006|title=Piqué admite "errores muy serios" en la invasión de Irak|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2006/09/29/espana/1159480812_850215.html|work=[[El País]]|language=es|first=Marta|last=Albiñana}}</ref>

In the face of the [[2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt]], Piqué and the Spanish government maintained a position of support to the institutional legality represented by President [[Hugo Chávez]], but did not treat the event as a coup d'état in spite of having mobilized the Ambassador in Venezuela to hold a meeting with [[Pedro Carmona]]. On 15 April he supported the return of Chávez as an "opportunity for democracy"<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 April 2002|title=Piqué califica la vuelta de Chávez de 'oportunidad para la democracia'|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2002/04/15/internacional/1018821608_850215.html|work=[[El País]]|language=es|first=Peru|last=Egurdibe}}</ref> In 2004 Piqué assured that they believed that Carmona, at that time, had assumed the position of [[President of Venezuela]] when they were aware of a supposed resignation of Chávez.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 2004|title=Piqué asegura que en aquel momento creían que Carmona era el presidente|url=https://www.diariodeleon.es/articulo/espana/pique-asegura-momento-creian-carmona-era-presidente/20041125010000747756.html|work=[[El Diario de León]]|language=es}}</ref>

===Minister of Science and Technology: 2002–2003 ===
As part of a cabinet reshuffle, he was replaced by [[Ana de Palacio y del Valle-Lersundi]] and instead took over the [[Ministry of Science (Spain)|Ministry of Science and Technology]], which oversees the telecommunications industry. At the time, he was thought to have paid the price for failing to resolve the protracted dispute with the UK over the future of [[Gibraltar]].<ref name="politico.eu"/>

During his mandate, he developed the Internet law and promoted the General Telecommunications Law.<ref name="mundo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/07/19/espana/1184867041.html|work=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]|date=19 July 2007|title=Josep Piqué, ministro de Aznar y reacio al 'ala dura' del Partido Popular}}</ref>

In those years he already began to be considered as a possible successor to Aznar in the leadership of the national People's Party, but he was finally sent to lead the [[People's Party of Catalonia]].<ref name="amabilidad">{{Cite web|url=https://www.epe.es/es/activos/20230406/josep-pique-amabilidad-politica-85698924|publisher=[[Prensa Ibérica]]|website=El Periódico de España|date=6 April 2023|title=Josep Piqué, la amabilidad de la política|first=Martí|last=Saballs}}</ref>

===In Catalonia===
Piqué became president of the People's Party of Catalonia in 2002 and, being a candidate to the [[2003 Catalan regional election|Catalan elections of 2003]], had the objective of capturing the votes that could be obtained by the ruling Catalanist conservative [[Convergence and Union]] party, having maintained a very close relationship with the Catalan establishment.<ref name=publico /> He turned the PP of Catalonia towards a moderate and Catalanist conservative position, further away from the centralism defended by the national PP.<ref name=publico /> In fact, he succeeded in getting the PP to participate in the first negotiations of a new [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006|Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]].<ref name=publico /><ref name=cronica />

He resigned from this position in July 2007 after disagreement over the political direction that the central PP wanted to impose over the regional branch.<ref name="LV" /><ref>[http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2486884&p_edi=badia vilaweb.cat]</ref>

Piqué was member of the [[Parliament of Catalonia]] between 23 December 2003 and 26 July 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Excm. Sr. Josep Piqué i Camps|url=https://www.parlament.cat/web/composicio/diputats-fitxa/index.html?p_codi=973&p_legislatura=7|website=Parliament of Catalonia}}</ref> During this period of time, between 2003 and 2007, he was also [[Senate of Spain|senator]] appointed by the Catalan Parliament.<ref>[https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/senadores/composicionsenado/fichasenador/index.html?legis=7&id1=12850 PIQUÉ I CAMPS, JOSEP] {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>[https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/senadores/composicionsenado/fichasenador/index.html?legis=8&id1=12850 PIQUÉ I CAMPS, JOSEP] {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref name=mundo />

==Business career==
[[File:Isabel Díaz Ayuso en la presentación del libro de David Alvaro " CATALUÑA, La construcción de un relato". (33066662038).jpg|thumb|300px|Piqué with [[Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba]] (left) and David Alvaro in January 2019]]
He started in the business world in the 1980s, when [[Macià Alavedra]] introduced him to the circles of the Spanish subsidiary of the [[Kuwait Investment Authority]] group.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Josep Manuel |last1=Novoa |first2=Jaume |last2=Reixach |title=Las mil caras de Jordi Pujol. Vida y milagros |publisher=Editorial Tres Tigres |location=Barcelona |date=2003 |page=181}}</ref> Previously, he had been appointed chief economist in the research department of [[La Caixa]] bank, until 1985.<ref name=eco />

After his time at the General Directorate of Industry of the Catalan government, Piqué returned to the private sector, when he was called by the businessman [[Javier de la Rosa]] to become CEO and president of the chemical company Ercros in 1989.<ref name=eco /><ref name=publico /> Between 1989 and 1992 he also chaired the company Erkimia.<ref name=eco /><ref name=publico /> Already involved in the important business and economic circles of Catalonia, Piqué was appointed president, in 1995, of the {{ill|Cercle d'Economia|es}}, until 1996, when he was appointed minister of the Spanish government.<ref name=eco /><ref name=publico />

Between November 2007 and 2013, Piqué served as [[chairman]] of [[low-cost carrier]] [[Vueling Airlines]].<ref name="Cesur" />

In November 2008, Piqué was co-chair of the [[Global China Business Meeting]] 2008 in [[Madrid]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/business/worldbusiness/18iht-yuan.4.17940278.html Emerging nations seen as economic lifesavers] ''The New York Times'', 18 November 2008</ref> From November 2008 until June 2009, Piqué served as member of a six-member panel of EU experts advising the Bulgarian government. Set up by Bulgaria's Prime Minister [[Sergei Stanishev]], the advisory board was chaired by [[Dominique de Villepin]] and mandated to recommend ways to help the country adjust to [[Member state of the European Union|EU membership]].<ref>Tony Barber (21 June 2009), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/14e6a054-758d-11de-9ed5-00144feabdc0.html Bulgaria risks shifting into Moscow's orbit, EU is told] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> In addition, Piqué served on the Political Sponsorship Committee of the Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED).<ref>[http://www.ipemed.coop/en/ipemed-r21/ipemeds-governance-c71/ Governance] Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED), Paris.</ref>

In 2009 he launched Pangea21 Consultora Internacional, a small firm in Barcelona to provide consulting services and management advice in all kinds of international business.<ref name="Cesur">{{Cite web |title=Almuerzo privado para socios con Josep Piqué |url=https://www.cesur.org.es/almuerzo-provado-con-josep-pique |access-date=6 April 2023 |website=Cesur |language=es}}</ref>

Piqué was appointed member of the board of directors of [[Amadeus IT Group]] in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2019-06-19/amadeus-junta-accionistas-josep-pique_2078464/|title=Amadeus nombra consejero independiente al exministro popular Josep Piqué|date=19 June 2019|work=[[El Confidencial]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married gynecologist Margarita Montaner, with whom he had three children, but they divorced.<ref name=publico /> In 2009, he married journalist [[Gloria Lomana]].<ref name="epe">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=Muere a los 68 años Josep Piqué, ministro en los gobiernos de Aznar |url=https://www.epe.es/es/actualidad/20230406/josep-pique-muere-68-anos-ministro-aznar-85696005 |website=El Periódico de España |publisher=[[Prensa Ibérica]]}}</ref>

His oratory was recognized as sharp and brilliant, and he maintained the policy of dialogue, negotiation and moderate conservatism as the axis of his political mood, as well as defender of the [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomic system]]. He maintained a profile of a discreet and observant politician.<ref name="cronica">{{Cite news|date=6 April 2023|title=Piqué, el catalanista que pudo liderar el PP|url=https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/pique-catalanista-pudo-liderar-pp_791870_102.html|work={{ill|Crónica Global|es}}|first=María Jesús|last=Cañizares|access-date=11 April 2023|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415095934/https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/politica/pique-catalanista-pudo-liderar-pp_791870_102.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 April 2023 |title=Josep Piqué, el ministro que se anticipaba a los cambios|url=https://www.expansion.com/opinion/2023/04/07/642fdd66e5fdea1c4f8b47c6.html|work=[[Expansión (Spanish newspaper)|Expansión]]|first=Miriam|last=González Durántez}}</ref>

Piqué died at [[Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre|Hospital 12 de Octubre]], in Madrid, on 6 April 2023, at age 68.<ref name=epe /> The funeral service was held at the M-30 mortuary in Madrid the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-04-07/la-capilla-ardiente-de-josep-pique-en-imagenes.html|title=La capilla ardiente de Josep Piqué, en imágenes|date=7 April 2023|work=El País}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706214919/http://www.barcelonametropolis.cat/en/page.asp?id=21&ui=34 "Missing the Barcelona bourgeoisie", Josep Piqué], Barcelona Metropolis, 2008.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706214919/http://www.barcelonametropolis.cat/en/page.asp?id=21&ui=34 "Missing the Barcelona bourgeoisie", Josep Piqué], Barcelona Metropolis, 2008.


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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Foreign Ministers of Spain#Kingdom of Spain (since 1975)#Ministers of Foreign Affairs (1975-2004)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=27 April 2000{{spaced ndash}}9 July 2002}}
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[[Category:Members of the 7th Senate of Spain]]
[[Category:Members of the 8th Senate of Spain]]
[[Category:People's Party (Spain) politicians]]
[[Category:People's Party (Spain) politicians]]
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Latest revision as of 02:36, 3 December 2024

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Piqué and the second or maternal family name is Camps.

Josep Piqué
Piqué in 2008
Minister of Science and Technology
In office
10 July 2002 – 3 September 2003
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterJosé María Aznar
Preceded byAnna Birulés
Succeeded byJuan Costa
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
27 April 2000 – 10 July 2002
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterJosé María Aznar
Preceded byAbel Matutes
Succeeded byAna Palacio
Spokesperson of the Government
In office
16 July 1998 – 27 April 2000
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterJosé María Aznar
Preceded byMiguel Ángel Rodríguez Bajón
Succeeded byPío Cabanillas Alonso
Minister of Industry and Energy
In office
6 May 1996 – 27 April 2000
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterJosé María Aznar
Preceded byJuan Manuel Eguiagaray
Succeeded by
  • Rodrigo Rato (Economy)
  • Anna Birulés (Science and Technology)
President of People's Party of Catalonia
In office
19 October 2002 – 19 July 2007
Preceded byAlberto Fernández Díaz
Succeeded byDaniel Sirera
Personal details
Born
Josep Piqué Camps

(1955-02-21)21 February 1955
Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
Died6 April 2023(2023-04-06) (aged 68)
Madrid, Spain
Political partyPPC
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
​
(m. 2009)​
Alma materUniversity of Barcelona

Josep Piqué Camps (21 February 1955 – 6 April 2023) was a Spanish politician of the conservative People's Party (PP). He served in ministerial departments under the José María Aznar government. He also helmed the People's Party of Catalonia from 2003 to 2007.

Early life

[edit]

Piqué was born on 21 February 1955 in Vilanova i la Geltrú, province of Barcelona, the son of local politician José Piqué Tetas.[1][2] He earned a doctorate in Business and Economics and a Law degree from the University of Barcelona.[1]

Political career

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

In his youth, and during the last years of the Franco's dictatorship Piqué was a member of extreme left organization Red Flag, and the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia.[3][4]

Piqué was professor at the University of Barcelona between 1978 and 1986, being the tenured professor of Economic Theory from 1984 to 1986.[5][6] That year, Piqué was named by Catalan president Jordi Pujol, Director General of Industry, an office he held until 1988 when returned to the private sector.[4][1]

Minister of Industry and Energy: 1996–2000

[edit]

In view of the 1996 general elections, the leader of the People's Party (PP) and of the opposition José María Aznar wanted to improve his image in Catalonia and get closer to the business community and the Catalan bourgeoisie as it was a decisive territory in electoral terms.[1] So in 1995, through the president of the Catalan employers' association Foment del Treball [es] Joan Rossell, he contacted Josep Piqué.[1]

Piqué and Minister of the Interior Jaime Mayor Oreja(left) in 2000

After the electoral victory of the PP, José María Aznar, already as Prime Minister, appointed him Minister of Industry and Energy as an independent politician on 5 May 1996, and was sworn the following day.[7][8] His main objective as minister, Piqué remarked that day, would be the reorganization of public enterprise, without ruling out privatization, in order to reduce the public deficit. He also referred to the reorganization of the electricity sector.[9]

Piqué was responsible for the privatizations of large public companies such as Repsol, Telefónica, Endesa and Aceralia.[2]

On 15 July 1998 he was appointed Spokesperson of the Government after rising as one of Aznar's most trusted men.[10][1]

In January 1999, he joined the People's Party, taking a place in its National Executive Committee. .[2]

Minister of Foreign Affairs: 2000–2002

[edit]

In the 2000 general elections, Piqué became member of the Congress of Deputies for the province of Barcelona.[2]

Aznar appointed him, on 27 April, as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, stepping down from the two previous positions he held.[11]

In this capacity, he also steered Spain's foreign policy during its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union.[12]

Piqué maintained a clear atlanticist stance and defended Spain's coalition with the U.S. government that precipitated the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] In 2006 he admitted "very serious mistakes" in the invasion, although he added that the existence of weapons of mass destruction was a conviction shared by everyone.[13]

In the face of the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, Piqué and the Spanish government maintained a position of support to the institutional legality represented by President Hugo Chávez, but did not treat the event as a coup d'état in spite of having mobilized the Ambassador in Venezuela to hold a meeting with Pedro Carmona. On 15 April he supported the return of Chávez as an "opportunity for democracy"[14] In 2004 Piqué assured that they believed that Carmona, at that time, had assumed the position of President of Venezuela when they were aware of a supposed resignation of Chávez.[15]

Minister of Science and Technology: 2002–2003

[edit]

As part of a cabinet reshuffle, he was replaced by Ana de Palacio y del Valle-Lersundi and instead took over the Ministry of Science and Technology, which oversees the telecommunications industry. At the time, he was thought to have paid the price for failing to resolve the protracted dispute with the UK over the future of Gibraltar.[12]

During his mandate, he developed the Internet law and promoted the General Telecommunications Law.[16]

In those years he already began to be considered as a possible successor to Aznar in the leadership of the national People's Party, but he was finally sent to lead the People's Party of Catalonia.[17]

In Catalonia

[edit]

Piqué became president of the People's Party of Catalonia in 2002 and, being a candidate to the Catalan elections of 2003, had the objective of capturing the votes that could be obtained by the ruling Catalanist conservative Convergence and Union party, having maintained a very close relationship with the Catalan establishment.[1] He turned the PP of Catalonia towards a moderate and Catalanist conservative position, further away from the centralism defended by the national PP.[1] In fact, he succeeded in getting the PP to participate in the first negotiations of a new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia.[1][18]

He resigned from this position in July 2007 after disagreement over the political direction that the central PP wanted to impose over the regional branch.[4][19]

Piqué was member of the Parliament of Catalonia between 23 December 2003 and 26 July 2007.[20] During this period of time, between 2003 and 2007, he was also senator appointed by the Catalan Parliament.[21][22][16]

Business career

[edit]
Piqué with Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba (left) and David Alvaro in January 2019

He started in the business world in the 1980s, when Macià Alavedra introduced him to the circles of the Spanish subsidiary of the Kuwait Investment Authority group.[23] Previously, he had been appointed chief economist in the research department of La Caixa bank, until 1985.[5]

After his time at the General Directorate of Industry of the Catalan government, Piqué returned to the private sector, when he was called by the businessman Javier de la Rosa to become CEO and president of the chemical company Ercros in 1989.[5][1] Between 1989 and 1992 he also chaired the company Erkimia.[5][1] Already involved in the important business and economic circles of Catalonia, Piqué was appointed president, in 1995, of the Cercle d'Economia [es], until 1996, when he was appointed minister of the Spanish government.[5][1]

Between November 2007 and 2013, Piqué served as chairman of low-cost carrier Vueling Airlines.[24]

In November 2008, Piqué was co-chair of the Global China Business Meeting 2008 in Madrid.[25] From November 2008 until June 2009, Piqué served as member of a six-member panel of EU experts advising the Bulgarian government. Set up by Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, the advisory board was chaired by Dominique de Villepin and mandated to recommend ways to help the country adjust to EU membership.[26] In addition, Piqué served on the Political Sponsorship Committee of the Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED).[27]

In 2009 he launched Pangea21 Consultora Internacional, a small firm in Barcelona to provide consulting services and management advice in all kinds of international business.[24]

Piqué was appointed member of the board of directors of Amadeus IT Group in June 2019.[28]

Personal life

[edit]

He married gynecologist Margarita Montaner, with whom he had three children, but they divorced.[1] In 2009, he married journalist Gloria Lomana.[29]

His oratory was recognized as sharp and brilliant, and he maintained the policy of dialogue, negotiation and moderate conservatism as the axis of his political mood, as well as defender of the autonomic system. He maintained a profile of a discreet and observant politician.[18][30]

Piqué died at Hospital 12 de Octubre, in Madrid, on 6 April 2023, at age 68.[29] The funeral service was held at the M-30 mortuary in Madrid the following day.[31]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Font, Marc (6 April 2023). "Piqué, del antifranquismo juvenil a abrazar el aznarismo hasta el final". Público.
  2. ^ a b c d "Josep Piqué, el economista y ministro de Aznar que intentó el giro catalanista del PP en los tiempos de Pujol". 20 minutos. 6 April 2023.
  3. ^ López Alba, Gonzalo (2 February 2008). "Mutaciones ideológicas". Público.
  4. ^ a b c "Muere el exministro Josep Piqué a los 68 años". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e Alegret, Xavier; Font Camats, Rut (6 April 2023). "Josep Piqué, más allá del político y empresario: un hombre analítico que sabía ganarse a la gente". Economía Digital (in Spanish).
  6. ^ "Ha mort Josep Piqué, alumni i antic professor de la Facultat". University of Barcelona (in Catalan). 6 April 2023.
  7. ^ REAL DECRETO 762/1996, de 5 de mayo, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobiemo. (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Gabinete de Aznar en 1996 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ "Reordenar la empresa pública, objetivo de Piqué en Industria". El País (in Spanish). 7 May 1996.
  10. ^ Real Decreto 1555/1998, de 15 de julio, por el que se dispone que don Josep Piqué i Camps, Ministro de Industria y Energía, asuma las funciones de Portavoz del Gobierno. (in Spanish)
  11. ^ REAL DECRETO 561/2000, de 27 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno. (in Spanish)
  12. ^ a b Martin Banks (10 July 2002), 'Delighted' Palacio lands top job and quits as MEP European Voice.
  13. ^ Albiñana, Marta (29 September 2006). "Piqué admite "errores muy serios" en la invasión de Irak". El País (in Spanish).
  14. ^ Egurdibe, Peru (15 April 2002). "Piqué califica la vuelta de Chávez de 'oportunidad para la democracia'". El País (in Spanish).
  15. ^ "Piqué asegura que en aquel momento creían que Carmona era el presidente". El Diario de León (in Spanish). 25 November 2004.
  16. ^ a b "Josep Piqué, ministro de Aznar y reacio al 'ala dura' del Partido Popular". El Mundo. 19 July 2007.
  17. ^ Saballs, Martí (6 April 2023). "Josep Piqué, la amabilidad de la política". El Periódico de España. Prensa Ibérica.
  18. ^ a b Cañizares, María Jesús (6 April 2023). "Piqué, el catalanista que pudo liderar el PP". Crónica Global [es]. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  19. ^ vilaweb.cat
  20. ^ "Excm. Sr. Josep Piqué i Camps". Parliament of Catalonia.
  21. ^ PIQUÉ I CAMPS, JOSEP (in Spanish)
  22. ^ PIQUÉ I CAMPS, JOSEP (in Spanish)
  23. ^ Novoa, Josep Manuel; Reixach, Jaume (2003). Las mil caras de Jordi Pujol. Vida y milagros. Barcelona: Editorial Tres Tigres. p. 181.
  24. ^ a b "Almuerzo privado para socios con Josep Piqué". Cesur (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  25. ^ Emerging nations seen as economic lifesavers The New York Times, 18 November 2008
  26. ^ Tony Barber (21 June 2009), Bulgaria risks shifting into Moscow's orbit, EU is told Financial Times.
  27. ^ Governance Institut de Prospective Economique du Monde Méditerranéen (IPEMED), Paris.
  28. ^ "Amadeus nombra consejero independiente al exministro popular Josep Piqué". El Confidencial. 19 June 2019.
  29. ^ a b "Muere a los 68 años Josep Piqué, ministro en los gobiernos de Aznar". El Periódico de España. Prensa Ibérica. 6 April 2023.
  30. ^ González Durántez, Miriam (7 April 2023). "Josep Piqué, el ministro que se anticipaba a los cambios". Expansión.
  31. ^ "La capilla ardiente de Josep Piqué, en imágenes". El País. 7 April 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 April 2000 – 9 July 2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairman of the Partido Popular de Cataluña
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
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