Anxo Quintana
Encyclopedia
Anxo Manuel Quintana González, commonly known as Anxo Quintana, is the former leader of the Galician Nationalist Bloc (Bloque Nacionalista Galego, BNG), the main nationalist
party in Galicia. From 2005 to 2009 he was a partner in the Galician Government
, holding the positions of Vice-President and Minister for Social Affairs.
Quintana was born in Allariz
, Ourense Province, on February 25, 1959. After graduating in Nursing
at the University of Vigo
he worked at the Cristal Piñor Hospital in Ourense
. He has been distinguished with an honorary award from the Society of General Medicine for his work in primary healthcare in rural communities.
Quintana rose to national prominence in 1989, when he was appointed as Mayor
of Allariz
, and remained so until 2000, winning local elections with a clear overall majority. During his terms, the small municipality
of Allariz was awarded the European Prize of Urbanism and it was chosen by the United Nations
as one of the leading communities on sustainable development
. From 1995 to 2000 Quintana was also chair of the Galician Federation of Provinces and Municipalities http://www.fegamp.org.
In 1999, he was appointed by the Parliament of Galicia
as senator in the Spanish Senate as the sole representative of the BNG. He eventually had to leave his municipal office in 2000 due to clashes with his new role as senator. In 2003 he replaced charismatic Xosé Manuel Beiras
in the leadership of BNG.
Following the 2005 Galician elections and subsequent political pacts with the Socialist Party of Galicia
(PSdG), Quintana became Vice-President of Galicia, serving until 2009. He also held responsibilities as Conselleiro (Minister) for Social Affairs. Quintana expressed that some of his main goals during his term were:
), and the Movemento Pola Base http://www.polabase.net.
At present Quintana has withdrawn from the political front line although remains a member of the party and occasionally features in the daily press.
Galician nationalism
Galician nationalism is a political movement arguing for the recognition of Galicia as a nation. The political movement referred to as modern Galician nationalism was born at the beginning of the twentieth century from the idea of Galicianism.- Ideology :...
party in Galicia. From 2005 to 2009 he was a partner in the Galician Government
Xunta de Galicia
The Xunta de Galicia is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President and the specialized ministers ....
, holding the positions of Vice-President and Minister for Social Affairs.
Quintana was born in Allariz
Allariz
The town of Allariz is in the province of Ourense, Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain. It occupies the center of the western half of the province, connecting with the towns of Taboadela, Paderne, Sandiás, Vilar de Santos, Rairiz de Veiga, Xunqueira de Ambía, A Merca and A Bola...
, Ourense Province, on February 25, 1959. After graduating in Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
at the University of Vigo
University of Vigo
The University of Vigo is a public university located in the city of Vigo, Galicia, Spain. There are three campuses:* Lagoas-Marcosende, between the municipalities of Vigo and Mos;* A Xunqueira, in Pontevedra;* As Lagoas, in Ourense;...
he worked at the Cristal Piñor Hospital in Ourense
Ourense
Ourense is a city in northwestern Spain, the capital of the province of the same name in Galicia. Its population of 108,674 accounts for 30% of the population of the province and makes it the third largest city of Galicia.-Population:...
. He has been distinguished with an honorary award from the Society of General Medicine for his work in primary healthcare in rural communities.
Political career
As a politician, he started working with the rural nationalist trade unionism in his youth. He has been a member of the Galician Nationalist Bloc since its foundation in 1982.Quintana rose to national prominence in 1989, when he was appointed as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Allariz
Allariz
The town of Allariz is in the province of Ourense, Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain. It occupies the center of the western half of the province, connecting with the towns of Taboadela, Paderne, Sandiás, Vilar de Santos, Rairiz de Veiga, Xunqueira de Ambía, A Merca and A Bola...
, and remained so until 2000, winning local elections with a clear overall majority. During his terms, the small municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Allariz was awarded the European Prize of Urbanism and it was chosen by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as one of the leading communities on sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
. From 1995 to 2000 Quintana was also chair of the Galician Federation of Provinces and Municipalities http://www.fegamp.org.
In 1999, he was appointed by the Parliament of Galicia
Parliament of Galicia
The Galician Parliament is the unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It is formed by 75 deputies . Deputies are elected every four years in ordinary period, or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of the Xunta of Galicia, by...
as senator in the Spanish Senate as the sole representative of the BNG. He eventually had to leave his municipal office in 2000 due to clashes with his new role as senator. In 2003 he replaced charismatic Xosé Manuel Beiras
Xosé Manuel Beiras
Xosé Manuel Hixinio Beiras Torrado - commonly known as Xosé Manuel Beiras or simply Beiras - is a Galician politician, economist, writer and intellectual. He is professor of Structural Economy at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Santiago de Compostela...
in the leadership of BNG.
Following the 2005 Galician elections and subsequent political pacts with the Socialist Party of Galicia
Socialist Party of Galicia
The Socialist Party of Galicia is a centre-left political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . It defines itself as a Galicianist and social democratic party.-External links:Official*...
(PSdG), Quintana became Vice-President of Galicia, serving until 2009. He also held responsibilities as Conselleiro (Minister) for Social Affairs. Quintana expressed that some of his main goals during his term were:
- Promotion of Galician languageGalician languageGalician is a language of the Western Ibero-Romance branch, spoken in Galicia, an autonomous community located in northwestern Spain, where it is co-official with Castilian Spanish, as well as in border zones of the neighbouring territories of Asturias and Castile and León.Modern Galician and...
and culture - Extending social services to all citizens, with a special attention to women as a disadvantaged group
- Achieving the official recognition from the Spanish government of Galicia as a nationNationA nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
- Reform of the Statute of AutonomyGalician Statute of Autonomy of 1981The Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1981 is the current basic institutional norm of Galicia. The Galician Government, Parliament and High Court of Galicia are regulated by it.-Genesis of the 1981 Statute:...
- Re-negotiating tax revenues from the Spanish central governmentSpanish GovernmentSpain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
in order to endorse Galicia with more financial resources
Controversy
During his time in the Galician Government, Quintana came under criticism from within the ranks of BNG as he was being accused of trying to centralize all powers, thus reducing the influence of the assemblies and the average party member. This criticism and claims for "transparency and internal democracy" resulted in the formation of two parallel organizations within the party: the Encontro Irmandinho http://www.encontroirmandinho.org (led by former BNG president Xosé Manuel BeirasXosé Manuel Beiras
Xosé Manuel Hixinio Beiras Torrado - commonly known as Xosé Manuel Beiras or simply Beiras - is a Galician politician, economist, writer and intellectual. He is professor of Structural Economy at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Santiago de Compostela...
), and the Movemento Pola Base http://www.polabase.net.
At present Quintana has withdrawn from the political front line although remains a member of the party and occasionally features in the daily press.
External links
- "Quin TV", multimedia portal of Anxo Quintana
- Official site of the BNG
- Vicepresidencia da Xunta de Galiza, official site of the Office of the Vice-President of Galicia