Ruiz-Gallardón, the great absent from the 25 anniversary of the Statute

The mayor was the only former president who did not attended the celebration. Aguirre rejected the reform of the text that calls for the opposition.

25 years ago, the Community of Madrid threw hanging out with the signing of its Charter. Yesterday, in the same place where he grew the text, the Royal Castle Manzanares, met Members of the House and the presidents that the Commonwealth has taken in this quarter century. All except one: Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

While Joaquin Leguina (president between 1983 and 1995) and the regional president, Esperanza Aguirre, celebrated with champagne "the period of greatest achievement," the mayor of the capital (president from 1995 to 2003) was on election campaign in Girona. "I have written a personal letter excusándose unable to be," said Aguirre.

The event was divided between those who want to reform the statute to include 'rights in education, health and housing' (PSOE, CC OO and IU), and those who reject it. Leguina said that "Catalonia is not well with the ongoing reforms" and Aguirre believes that is not asking citizens.

Manzanares Royal, reform

The Royal Castle Manzanares (fifteenth century) was yesterday headquarters of the Governing Council, in commemoration of 25 years of the Statute. For once, politicians have replaced the tourists who tend to go their walls: 70,000 per year. To attract visitors created an interpretation center and an audiovisual room, a garden was planted and illuminates the medieval fortress.