- MADRID -- Tony Blair has
been called "a complete dickhead" by a leading Spanish politician
live on television. The comment was made by Jose Bono, one of the three
most powerful figures in the Socialist Party. His remarks were not intended
to be heard, but were recorded by a television team while he was talking
to Joaquin Almunia, a former Socialist leader.
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- Mr Bono said: "Hey, and our colleague Blair? He's
a complete dickhead (un gilipollas integral). He's an imbecile."
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- The comments contrast with the Spanish prime minister
Jose Maria Aznar's carefully cultivated friendship with Mr Blair and will
embarrass the Socialists.
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- The party is irritated by Mr Blair's friendship with
Mr Aznar and dislikes the resulting Anglo-Spanish alliance.
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- There is little question that were Spain's conservatives
to lose power, the London-Madrid axis would collapse.
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- Mr Bono, a staunch Catholic, is regarded as a potential
leader of the Socialist Party of Spanish Workers.
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- The present leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, could
be dropped if Mr Aznar's centre-Right People's Party wins a predicted third
successive victory in the March 14 elections. That would mirror the upheaval
in the Popular Party where Mr Aznar will step down at the election and
make way for his successor Mariano Rajoy.
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- Mr Rajoy will visit Downing Street this week to cement
the relationship with Britain.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
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