Hormaechea, Juan

b. 1939, Santander

   Politician

   Hormaechea first took office in 1977 as mayor of Santander. After ten years" service he was elected regional president of the autonomous community of Cantabria, serving from 1987–90 and from 1991–4. Despite being associated with the centre-right PP between 1987 and 1990, he was subsequently disowned by the PP—in part, because of his habit of insulting his fellow politicians—and stood for re-election in 1991 only after forming his own, Cantabrian, party. He was re-elected despite having previously lost a motion of censure brought by both the PP and the socialist PSOE. A political career marked by scandal came to a head in 1994 when, despite still being in office, Hormaechea was convicted of abuse of trust and misappropriation of public funds and sentenced to six years in gaol. Though technically able to continue as regional president pending the ratification of his sentence by the Constitutional Tribunal, he succumbed to popular and media pressure and resigned two months after being found guilty.

   See also: corruption; political parties; politics

   PAUL HEYWOOD