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Spanish celebrate 'conquest' of French politics Spanish celebrate 'conquest' of French politics
(7 days later)
Confidence in their own politicians sits at its lowest level in a decade, but Spaniards are nevertheless celebrating the fact that two of their own are now at the forefront of French politics.Confidence in their own politicians sits at its lowest level in a decade, but Spaniards are nevertheless celebrating the fact that two of their own are now at the forefront of French politics.
Paris's first female mayor and the new French prime minister are both from Spanish families who migrated to France. On Monday, the Spanish edition of the Huffington Post celebrated the news with the headline: "Manuel Valls and Anne Hidalgo, two Spaniards at the peak of French power".Paris's first female mayor and the new French prime minister are both from Spanish families who migrated to France. On Monday, the Spanish edition of the Huffington Post celebrated the news with the headline: "Manuel Valls and Anne Hidalgo, two Spaniards at the peak of French power".
Hailing from the town of San Fernando, in the region of Cádiz, Hidalgo moved with her parents to France as an infant. She visited the region regularly, said one resident, explaining why a group of them gathered on Sunday to cheer on Hidalgo as the election results came in. Resident Patricia Cavada told reporters: "There she is, a woman and the daughter of Andalusian immigrants. It's a historic achievement." Hailing from the town of San Fernando, in the province of Cádiz, Hidalgo moved with her parents to France as an infant. She visited the province regularly, said one resident, explaining why a group of them gathered on Sunday to cheer on Hidalgo as the election results came in. Resident Patricia Cavada told reporters: "There she is, a woman and the daughter of Andalusian immigrants. It's a historic achievement."
When Hidalgo was declared the winner of the election, the mayor of San Fernando expressed his "immense pride" on behalf of the town.When Hidalgo was declared the winner of the election, the mayor of San Fernando expressed his "immense pride" on behalf of the town.
"From her hometown, we're sending Anne Hidalgo lots of encouragement for this exciting challenge in front of her, and we're positive she'll carry it out to perfection," said José Loaiza in a statement, adding that Hidalgo would always have "the support and affection of her countrymen"."From her hometown, we're sending Anne Hidalgo lots of encouragement for this exciting challenge in front of her, and we're positive she'll carry it out to perfection," said José Loaiza in a statement, adding that Hidalgo would always have "the support and affection of her countrymen".
On Tuesday La Vanguardia, Catalonia's leading daily, featured a picture of Valls with the headline: "Valls, a French prime minister from Barcelona, the Barça fan who speaks Catalan".On Tuesday La Vanguardia, Catalonia's leading daily, featured a picture of Valls with the headline: "Valls, a French prime minister from Barcelona, the Barça fan who speaks Catalan".
Valls was born in Barcelona when his parents, a Catalan painter and a Swiss-Italian mother, were on vacation from France. "He speaks about his Catalan origins with pride and when he's meeting with contacts in Barcelona he speaks in Catalan," reported La Vanguardia, noting that Valls spoke Catalan as fluently as he does Castilian Spanish.Valls was born in Barcelona when his parents, a Catalan painter and a Swiss-Italian mother, were on vacation from France. "He speaks about his Catalan origins with pride and when he's meeting with contacts in Barcelona he speaks in Catalan," reported La Vanguardia, noting that Valls spoke Catalan as fluently as he does Castilian Spanish.
The political announcements pushed Valls and Hidalgo to the top of trending topics on Twitter in Spain, with many triumphantly pronouncing on what one called "the conquista of the Spanish exiles". Others poked fun at the news, with one user pointing out that in these times of crisis, "even Spanish politicians have had to leave to find work in other countries".The political announcements pushed Valls and Hidalgo to the top of trending topics on Twitter in Spain, with many triumphantly pronouncing on what one called "the conquista of the Spanish exiles". Others poked fun at the news, with one user pointing out that in these times of crisis, "even Spanish politicians have had to leave to find work in other countries".
• This article was amended on 7 April 2014. The earlier version referred to Cádiz as a region; it is a province within the region of Andalusia.