From Pedro J. Ramírez to Sánchez and Zapatero: the burning chapel of Miguel Barroso

Different personalities, including politicians, journalists and businessmen, attended the funeral chapel of the journalist and former Secretary of State for Communication this Sunday. Miguel Barrosowho died on Saturday at the age of 70 due to a heart attack.

The president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezaccompanied by Begoña Gomezand the former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero They approached the funeral chapel of the person who was also a member of the Board of Directors of Prisa. He settled in the Madrid funeral home of San Isidro and everyone gave him their condolences. Mariano Barrosoformer president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and brother of the deceased.

In addition to Sánchez and Zapatero, numerous members of the Government also said their last goodbye to the journalist, such as the Minister of Justice, Presidency and Relations with the Cortes, Felix Bolaños; the Government spokesperson and Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría; the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodriguez; the Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, Santos Cerdanthe former minister Jose Blanco and the former president of Castilla-La Mancha José María Barreda.

Likewise, the president of the EFE Agency, Miguel Angel Olivershowed his condolences to Barroso's family as well as journalists Pedro J. Ramírez (con Cruz Sánchez de Lara) y Jose Miguel Contreras and the president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez Palleteamong others.

Miguel Barroso

The journalist made his transition from information to politics in the eighties mark a before and after in communication at Moncloa, even before he was appointed Secretary of State for Communication in the first Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

This was demonstrated by his work as chief of staff of the Minister of Education and Science, José María Maravall (1982-1988), until the portfolio went to Javier Solana. Barroso (Zaragoza, 1953-Madrid, 2024) has had a long career linked to political communication, collaborating intermittently with the Socialist Party; Sometimes, as in recent times, in a discreet manner advising Pedro Sánchez, in a manner as reserved as he did in the last stage of Felipe González as President of the Government.

He knew how to put the pieces together to, in a subtle way, ensure that the objectives were met so that the socialist party remained in power, and at the same time during his mandate the wickers of the RTVE Law (2006) were woven together. It established the independence of the corporation and pluralism in the parliamentary election of its bodies, a stage in which the EFE Agency ratified its Editorial Statute, which guaranteed the independence of its journalists.

When he left office he became director of the Casa de América in Spain (2006-2009), a time when he defined it as “the natural forum for expression and meeting of Ibero-Americans from both sides of the Atlantic.” He did not hide his passion for the Caribbean, an attraction that he was able to expand when he was in charge of the expansion of Young & Rubicam in Cuba (2015); His knowledge of the situation in the area led him to give conferences and talks.

Precisely, his two novels are set in the city of Havana: Dawn with ants in your mouth (2016), a classic of the police genre, and A sensitive subject (2022), based on the true story of a crime.

Currently, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Grupo PRISA and Business Director at WPP Spain, an international marketing and communications services company. Graduated in Law and Modern and Contemporary History, specializing in Ibero-America from the Central University of Barcelona, ​​Barroso worked in media outlets such as The Old Molethe EFE Agency or the Valencia Newspaper.

He became general director of FNAC (1998-2000), until in March 2001 he was replaced by Eduardo Bofill and appointed director of Communication for the entire group, with headquarters in Paris, a position he held until 2004.

Barroso was married to the Spanish politician Carme Chacón, Minister of Housing between 2007 and 2008, and first Minister of Defense in Spain, who died in 2017, with whom he had a son, Miquel. From his previous marriage to journalist Charo Izquierdo, he has two daughters, Cristina and Camila.