Javier Pradera
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Pradera Gortázar (April 28, 1934 – November 20, 2011) was a Spanish
anti-Franco
activist, journalist
, political analyst and publisher. Pradera was a journalist and columnist
for El País, based in Madrid
. Pradera worked as an editorial writer at El País from 1976 to 1986. His first piece for El País was published on May 16, 1976. He remained an El País columnist and editorial board member from 1986 until his death in 2011. Outside of El País, Pradera worked as the director of the publishing firm, Alianza Editorial, and founded the publishing house, Siglo XXI.
Pradera was born on April 28, 1934, in San Sebastián
, Gipuzkoa. His grandfather, Víctor Pradera, a politician who founded the Bloque Nacional, a now defumct conservative party, was killed by anarchists in 1936. His father, Javier Pradera, was also assassinated just one day after his grandfather.
Pradera completed his law degree
as a cum laude from Complutense University. He found work within the legal department of the Franco's era Spanish Air Force
. However, Pradera was arrested in February 1956 for taking part in anti-Franco university protests, which cost him his job. Pradera turned from his family's politically conservative traditions and joined the Communist Party of Spain
, which was banned during the Franco era. However, he left the part in 1964 following the expulsions of Jorge Semprún
and Fernando Claudin
in a party purge.
Pradera and Fernando Savater
, a Basque
philosopher, co-founded the Claves de Razón Práctica magazine in 1990.
Javier Pradera died on November 20, 2011, at the age of 77. His last column for El País was published on the same day as his death. The piece, which he titled Al borde del abismo (On the brink of the abyss), warned against a potential interim government for Spain if the European sovereign debt crisis worsened.
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...
anti-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...
activist, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, political analyst and publisher. Pradera was a journalist and columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for El País, based in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Pradera worked as an editorial writer at El País from 1976 to 1986. His first piece for El País was published on May 16, 1976. He remained an El País columnist and editorial board member from 1986 until his death in 2011. Outside of El País, Pradera worked as the director of the publishing firm, Alianza Editorial, and founded the publishing house, Siglo XXI.
Pradera was born on April 28, 1934, in San Sebastián
Sebastian
Saint Sebastian was a Christian saint and martyr, who is said to have been killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post and shot with arrows...
, Gipuzkoa. His grandfather, Víctor Pradera, a politician who founded the Bloque Nacional, a now defumct conservative party, was killed by anarchists in 1936. His father, Javier Pradera, was also assassinated just one day after his grandfather.
Pradera completed his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
as a cum laude from Complutense University. He found work within the legal department of the Franco's era Spanish Air Force
Spanish Air Force
-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
. However, Pradera was arrested in February 1956 for taking part in anti-Franco university protests, which cost him his job. Pradera turned from his family's politically conservative traditions and joined the Communist Party of Spain
Communist Party of Spain
The Communist Party of Spain is the third largest national political party in Spain. It is the largest member organization of the United Left electoral coalition and has influence in the largest trade union in Spain, Workers' Commissions ....
, which was banned during the Franco era. However, he left the part in 1964 following the expulsions of Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún
Jorge Semprún Maura was a Spanish writer and politician who lived in France most of his life and wrote primarily in French. From 1953 to 1962, during the era of Francisco Franco, Semprún lived clandestinely in Spain working as an organizer for the exiled Communist Party of Spain, but was expelled...
and Fernando Claudin
Fernando Claudin
Fernando Claudin was a Spanish communist ideologist and historian best known for his two volume study The Communist Movement: From Comintern to Cominform.- Within the Spanish Communist Party :...
in a party purge.
Pradera and Fernando Savater
Fernando Savater
Fernando Fernández-Savater Martín is one of Spain's most popular living philosophers, as well as an essayist and celebrated author....
, a Basque
Basque
Basque may refer to:* The Basque language* The Basque people* A type of clothing:**A short basque; see torsolette**An old basque; see basque See also:* List of Basques...
philosopher, co-founded the Claves de Razón Práctica magazine in 1990.
Javier Pradera died on November 20, 2011, at the age of 77. His last column for El País was published on the same day as his death. The piece, which he titled Al borde del abismo (On the brink of the abyss), warned against a potential interim government for Spain if the European sovereign debt crisis worsened.