José María de Areilza, Count of Motrico

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José María de Areilza
José María de Areilza (1976).jpg
de Areilza in 1976
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
In office
1981–1983
Preceded byHans de Koster
Succeeded by
Deputy of the General Courts
For Madrid
In office
1979–1982
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
11 December 1975 – 7 July 1976
Preceded byPedro Cortina Mauri
Succeeded byMarcelino Oreja
Ambassador of Spain in France
In office
1960–1964
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ambassador of Spain in the United States
In office
1954–1960
Preceded byJosé Félix de Lequerica y Erquiza
Succeeded by
Ambassador of Spain in the Argentine Republic
In office
1947–1950
Preceded by
Succeeded byManuel Aznar Zubigaray
Major of Bilbao
In office
June 1937 – February 1938
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Personal details
Born(1909-08-03)3 August 1909
Portugalete, Spain
Died22 February 1998(1998-02-22) (aged 88)
Madrid, Spain
NationalitySpanish
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Don José María de Areilza y Martínez-Rodas, Count of Motrico (3 August 1909, Portugalete, Vizcaya – 22 February 1998, Madrid) was a Spanish politician, engineer and ambassador.

During the Spanish civil war he became Mayor of the city of Bilbao in 1938. Between 1947 and 1964 he served as Spanish Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Washington DC and Paris. In 1964 he resigned from his office and was asked by the King in exile to lead the monarchist opposition to general Franco, as Secretary General of his Private Council. Between 1975 and 1976 he was the first Foreign Affairs Minister of the new King Juan Carlos I. In 1976, along with Pío Cabanillas he founded the short-lived People's Party, which later became part of the UCD, although he left after disagreements with Adolfo Suárez. In 1979 he was elected to the Congress of Deputies for Madrid district for the Coalición Democrática. In 1981 he became President of the Assembly of the Council of Europe and in 1997 he was elected member of the Spanish Royal Academy. He wrote over 3000 newspaper articles and 12 books. His wife died in 1991.


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