During the tribute, President Azcón recalled that "Aragon is built by looking to the future, but without forgetting those who made it possible for us to get this far. That is why this recognition should serve to remember our first president and, with him, all the men and women who made the development of this autonomous community possible."
For her part, the mayor highlighted that Juan Antonio Bolea "worked tirelessly for a strong, harmonious autonomous community united within a democratic Spain," and championed "that legacy of dialogue, values and public service that we continue to work for today." She also stressed that the bust "is a permanent reminder of our commitment to the values he defended."
CLOSING WITH "SOMOS" AND THE CUATRIBARRADA FLAG
His son, Juan Bolea, and his widow, Charo Fernández, also spoke at the event, recalling their father and husband with great affection. Above all, they focused on the major role he played in building the Aragon we know today, while also sharing anecdotes that offered a glimpse of the remarkable person he was outside politics.
After the three speeches, José Antonio Labordeta’s "Somos" was performed on the violin, and all the political representatives and their relatives placed yellow and red roses beneath the bust, referring to Aragon’s cuatribarrada flag.
AN INITIATIVE LED BY THE FAMILY
The installation of the bust is the result of collaboration between Zaragoza City Council, the Government of Aragon and the Bolea Foradada family. The agreement established that the Government of Aragon would cover the bronze sculpture’s production, the family would participate in its design and artistic creation, and Zaragoza City Council would accept its donation and installation in Pignatelli Park, later incorporating it into the municipal heritage.
The piece also responds to an initiative put forward by the family itself to complete the recognition already present in this part of the city. Pignatelli Park includes a Juan Antonio Bolea Foradada Promenade, whose name recalls his career and his role in restoring Aragonese self-government. The sculptural project was created by sculptor Pablo Fernández-Pujol and consists of a bronze bust on a stone pedestal.
HIS IMPORTANCE IN ARAGON
Born in Ayerbe in 1930, Juan Antonio Bolea Foradada studied law at the University of Zaragoza. In the 1977 general election, he was elected as a representative for Zaragoza and, the following year, the Assembly of Aragonese Parliamentarians elected him as the first provisional president of the General Deputation of Aragon. He held this responsibility until 1981.
His institutional career also included positions as a representative, senator and later member of the Cortes of Aragon, as well as an extensive career connected to the legal field. He died in 2021, and among the honors he received was his appointment as Adoptive Son of Zaragoza in 2010.
