National
State funeral for previous Spanish Prime Minister
By h.b.
May 9, 2008 - 8:26 AM

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia led the mourners in the Almudena Cathedral last night at the state funeral for the ex Spanish Prime Minister, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo.

All the men to follow him in the post, Felipe González, José María Aznar and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, were present to pay their respects to the man who, in the words of the Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio María Rouco Varela, ‘was entirely dedicated to the service of his people and his homeland’. He underlined the dedication of the deceased in dramatic moments which helped the transition to democracy in Spain.

José María Aznar and Felipe González greet each other at the funeral last night - Photo EFE

Around 1000 people attended the funeral including other members of the Royal Family such as the Prince and Princess of Asturias, just back from a trip to Poland, and the Infantas Elena and Cristina.

Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo died of a heart attack last Saturday at the age of 82. His state funeral is the first to be held in the Almudena Cathedral since a ceremony for those killed in the March 11 2004 Madrid train bombings.