The birth of the new institution brought together numerous political representatives, including the then vice president of the Government of Aragon, José Ángel Biel; the president of Aragon's PP, Gustavo Alcalde; Popular Party spokesman Manuel Guedea; and CHA spokesman in the regional Parliament, Chesús Bernal.
One of the day's most notable moments was the unanimous election of Fernando Martín, then mayor of Calatayud, as the first president of the County Council. The institution comprised 20 representatives from the PP, 13 from the PSOE, one from Izquierda Unida and another from the Partido Aragonés.
Political consensus defined that day. Martín himself expressed his desire to rise to the occasion and defended three principles for the new county's operation: usefulness, generosity and territorial balance. His priorities included improving social services, assisting older people and promoting youth employment.
For his part, José Ángel Biel highlighted Calatayud as an example for the rest of Aragon's territories. The then vice president acknowledged that he had considered this county one of the most difficult to establish and announced that the next regional budgets would include specific funds to finance its new responsibilities.
The establishment was also accompanied by references to Calatayud's historical past. Fernando Martín recalled the creation of its community in 1250 and its proclamation as a Spanish province in 1821, a status that was revoked two years later.
The agreement among the various political forces and the desire to bring services closer to municipalities marked the birth of that new institution. This is how we reported it in Aragón Digital 25 years ago, in the original story about the establishment of Calatayud County, the largest in Aragon.
