MADRID, 6 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the CEOE employers' association, Antonio Garamendi, lamented this Thursday the death of the former minister and businessman Josep Piqué, as he expressed in a message published on his profile on the social network Twitter.

"Today we have not only lost a great politician, economist and statesman. We have lost a friend with whom I was lucky enough to share talks, concerns and the desire to create a better Spain", Garamendi said.

"Thank you Josep, always in our hearts. Rest in peace", he continued.

Born in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) in 1955, he was a four-time minister in the Presidency of José María Aznar (PP), leader of the popular Catalans, candidate for the Generalitat and, after resigning from politics, devoted himself to his role economist and business manager.

From 1996 to 2003 he held various positions: Minister of Industry and Energy between 1996 and 2000; Minister Spokesperson for the Government between 1998 and 2000; Foreign Affairs between 2000 and 2002, and Science and Technology between 2002 and 2003.