1. Which person you have worked with has most inspired you in your career, and how?
Before becoming a Member of the European Parliament, I was a Senator of the Kingdom of Spain, President of the Government of the Balearic Islands and a Mayor. The people who have most marked my life have been, curiously enough, those I met and worked with at the beginning: citizens who invested their free time in improving the lives of their neighbours in exchange for absolutely nothing. Public service at its best and civic commitment as a way of life. This is my way of understanding politics.
2. What one item would you save from your home if it were on fire? (apart from your photo album)
I love contemporary art and I keep a small collection of it at home, so I would surely rescue some of them. They all have a special meaning to me, and above all I associate them with the word ‘home’. It would really be very difficult for me to choose just one.
3. Is there anything you have personally achieved or done that would surprise people?
I am a pharmacist in the Spanish Army reserve, so during my holidays, apart from continuing to treat my patients in my pharmacy, I spend weeks in my military uniform, serving Spain using my profession. It is an extraordinary experience to be an ensign, contributing my skills and experience to the immense work carried out by the Spanish Army. It is true that I never rest, but it is an honour to be part of the Armed Forces.
4. What do you do in your free time to relax and unwind?
I don’t have much free time between the European Parliament and my pharmacy, but when I go out for a while I find it very relaxing to play the drums. If Mick Jagger reads The Parliament Magazine and is looking for a replacement for Charlie Watts, I am available.
5. What was the most inspirational and influential book you have read and why?
Lately, the one book that has made me think the most has been “Patria” by Fernando Aramburu, a novel set during the ETA terrorism attacks of the 90s in Spain. There are real heroes in European civil society who have lived with terrorism for too long. It is our duty to recognise their courage, not to forget their misfortune and to accompany them in their quest for justice.