Josu Ortuondo Larrea

Josu Ortuondo Larrea (born February 13, 1948 in Bilbao ) is a Spanish politician of the Basque nationalist party PNV . From 1999 to 2009 he was a member of the European Parliament .

Professional career

In addition to studying business administration , which he completed in 1982 with a Master of Business Administration , Ortuondo worked as a banker from 1969 to 1987. After that he was general director of the Basque public radio and television station Euskal Telebista until 1991 . From 1991 to 1999 he headed the Bilbao Fair . He was also president of various companies, such as the energy supplier Bilbogás.

Political career

After the end of Franco's dictatorship , Ortuondo joined the re-admitted PNV party, of which he was a member of the board from 1983 to 1987 as the person responsible for administrative and financial matters. From 1991 to 1995 he was Mayor of Bilbao, from 1995 also President of the Basque City Council. He was also a board member of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions from 1994–1999 and a board member of Eurocities from 1995–1999 .

In the 1999 European elections , Ortuondo was elected to the European Parliament , of which he was a member until 2009. Here he was a member of the board of the liberal group ALDE and sat on the committee for transport and tourism .

Web links

• Entry for Josu Ortuondo Larrea in the database of Members of the European Parliament
• VoteWatch.eu: Josu Ortuondo Larrea's voting behavior in the European Parliament (in English)