NUMEROUS current and ex-PP colleagues of former Spanish president Mariano Rajoy turned out in support for him today (Sunday) at the funeral of his father, Mariano Senior, who died on Thursday aged 97.
Former ministers for work, interior and education, Fátima Báñez, Juan Ignacio Zoido and Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, along with ex-deputy president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and Javier Arenas and Fernando Martínez Maíllo attended the wake at the Santa María basilica in Pontevedra, Galicia, where Rajoy grew up and his family of origin lived.
Regional president of Galicia Alberto Núñez Feijóo and cabinet members Francisco Conde and Jesús Vázquez Almuíña – all PP members – plus opposition socialist leader for the north-western territory Gonzalo Caballero went along for the initial service at the San Mauro crematorium.
They all said they had gone along to support 'a friend going through a terrible time', but added that Mariano Junior (pictured, left) was 'bearing up well'.
The PP members said that 'even though' Mariano Rajoy Sobredo 'was very elderly and had not been well lately', it was 'always hard losing a parent' and ex-president Mariano Rajoy Brey was coping well under the circumstances.
Mariano Rajoy Sobredo had four children with his wife Olga Brey López, who died in 1993 – Mercedes, Luis, Enrique and Mariano president – and held a law degree from Santiago de Compostela University.
He had been chairman of the provincial court of Pontevedra and remained there as a stipendiary magistrate until he retired.
Six-and-a-half years ago, then aged 91, Mariano Rajoy Sobredo suffered a stroke and was admitted to Madrid's Hospital La Paz, where he had been treated for a broken hip months earlier.
The two Marianos had always gone to the polls together to vote at every local, regional and general election, but were unable to do so for the first time in late 2011 because of Mariano Senior's hip operation – and it was this election which Mariano Junior won, becoming president of Spain for the first time ever.
Mariano Junior was very close to his father and, as he aged and became less able, moved him into the Moncloa Palace – the official presidential residence – to nurse him and keep an eye on him.
