Jerónimo Saavedra

Jerónimo Saavedra Acevedo (Born 3 July 1936 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) is a Spanish politician. He served as President of the Canary Islands from 1982 to 1987, and again from 1991 to 1993.

In 1972 he joined the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), as well as the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). Being the General secretary of the Canarian Federation of PSOE from 1976 to 1983. Saavedra was elected deputy for the Constituent Cortes in 1977 and re-elected deputy in 1979, 1982 and 1989, representing Las Palmas. During the last Government of Felipe González (5th legislature) Saavedra held the positions of Minister of Public Administrations and Minister of Education and Science.

In 1996 and from 1999 to 2003 he was elected Spanish Senate.

In 2007 was elected mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in a landslide victory, bringing the twelve-year rule of his conservative People's Party predecessors to an end.

In 2000 during the presentation of a book on outing in Spain he announced publicly that he was gay.

Saavedra used to teach at Spanish universities—mainly Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC)—and holds a Doctor degree in Laws and a diploma in Company Administration.

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