Gonzalo Capellán

Gonzalo Capellán de Miguel (born 23 January 1972)^[1] is a Spanish academic and People's Party (PP) politician. He led the party in the 2023 Riojan regional election, in which they won a majority and he became President of La Rioja.

Gonzalo Capellán de Miguel
President of La Rioja
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 June 2023
Preceded by	Concha Andreu
Personal details
Born	(1972-01-23)23 January 1972 Haro, Spain
Political party	People's Party
Alma mater	University of Cantabria

Biography

Capellán was born in Haro, La Rioja. His father Patricio, who died in 2016, was the town's mayor from 1987 to 2015, representing the People's Party (PP).^[2] He graduated in history and geography from the University of Cantabria and became a lecturer at the University of La Rioja.^[3]

Capellán was elected to the Parliament of La Rioja in 2007. He resigned in September 2008 due to his responsibilities as vice-rector of the University of Cantabria.^[4] Having already been La Rioja's director general of culture between 2003 and 2007, he was named Minister of Education, Culture and Tourism in the cabinet of Pedro Sanz in June 2011.^[5] He left in November 2014 to be Minister of Education for the Spanish embassy in the United Kingdom.^[6]

See also: Government of Gonzalo Capellán

In 2020, Capellán returned to Spain and in February 2022 he was promoted to Professor of Contemporary History at the University of La Rioja.^[7] That October, he was chosen as the PP candidate for the 2023 Riojan regional election by the party's national leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.^[8] His party won 17 of 33 seats, winning back the government from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) after four years.^[9] He was officially elected the 9th President of La Rioja on 28 June, with his party voting in favour and all other parties against.^[10]

References

1. "Gonzalo Capellán de Miguel" (in Spanish). Parliament of La Rioja. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
2. "Gonzalo Capellán: "Mi padre me enseñó a ganar las elecciones en la calle"" [Gonzalo Capellán: "My father taught me to win elections in the street"] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
3. "Gonzalo Capellán, catedrático de Historia, quiere devolver el Gobierno de La Rioja al PP" [Gonzalo Capellán, history professor, wants to bring the Government of La Rioja back to the PP] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
4. Ruiz, Rosa M. (25 September 2008). "El vicerrector Gonzalo Capellán deja de ser diputado en La Rioja" [Vice-rector Gonzalo Capellán leaves office as deputy in La Rioja]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 June 2023.
5. Muñoz, M. (29 June 2011). ""En la educación riojana hay que hacer cosas innovadoras y de referencia"" ["In education in La Rioja, we have to do things that are innovative and set benchmarks"]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 June 2023.
6. "Capellán: "no podía dejar pasar esta oportunidad única que encaja con mi perfil"" [Capellán: "I couldn't pass up this unique opportunity that matches my profile"]. La Rioja (in Spanish). Europa Press. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
7. "Gonzalo Capellán, nuevo catedrático de Historia Contemporánea de la UR" [Gonzalo Capellán, new professor of Contemporary History at the University of La Rioja]. La Rioja (in Spanish). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
8. "Gonzalo Capellán: "Solo contemplo ganar las elecciones"" [Gonzalo Capellán: "I only contemplate winning the election"] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
9. Goyoaga, Ander (29 May 2023). "El popular Gonzalo Capellán presidirá La Rioja" [Gonzalo Capellán of the People's Party will be president of La Rioja]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 June 2023.
10. Espuelas, Victor (28 June 2023). "Gonzalo Capellán, nuevo presidente de La Rioja" [Gonzalo Capellán, new president of La Rioja] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 28 June 2023.