Carmen Alborch: Much-loved Spanish socialist politician and feminist author

A fashion icon and fierce politician, the Valencian-native was dubbed the 'Almodóvar' minister for her role in introducing regulations to protect the domestic film industry

Alborch also established a reputation as a militant feminist author, and her fight for equality earned her a long list of distinctions (Photos Getty)

A charismatic and strong advocate for equality, Carmen Alborch, Spain’s former minister of culture, matched her rebellious streak – expressed not least in her wardrobe choices – with a warmth that appealed to millions.

Spain was still picking up the pieces from Franco’s rule when she entered politics in the early Nineties. With her charming and flamboyant manner, she became a symbol of transition in politics, modernity and feminism.

Having earned a PhD in mercantile law in the mid-Eighties, she became the first female dean of the law faculty of the University of Valencia.

In 1988, she went on to direct the Valencia Institute for Modern Art for five years. In 1993, she accepted socialist prime minister Felipe González Marques’s invitation to lead the ministry of culture – becoming the first female Spanish minister to hail from Valencia in a post she kept until 1996.

Her sense for fashion and style quickly captured the attention of the Spanish public. Even her critics were wowed by the Issey Miyake dresses at state dinners.

She was dubbed the “pop minister” for her colourful attires and then, because of her role introducing regulations to protect the Spanish film industry, the “Almodóvar” minister.

In May 2007, she stood as the PSOE candidate for mayor of Valencia (Getty)

In 1994, by the time Alborch took office, the number of Spanish films being produced had plummeted and state subsidies were not reaching new filmmakers. Box office takings of Spanish films, in fierce competition with their American counterparts, were at a historic low.

Alborch, ironing out some of the tensions between distributors and producers, changed the game for film production professionals when she reduced the target amount for box office takings required of Spanish films in order to receive state subsidies. This law, often referred to as the “Alborch Law”, favoured new voices in the film industry. She later referred to the passing of the law as the greatest achievement of her political career.

Taking the fight to the US further, rules on dubbing licences – a crucial source of income for American-owned distributing companies – were stiffened, while also encouraging these companies to invest more in Spanish productions.

Perhaps as a result of a precarious cultural budget, Alborch also pioneered the Patronage Law; a new financing model introducing tax exemptions for sponsors of Spanish cultural institutions. She also spearheaded the expansion and refurbishment of two of Spain’s major museums: Madrid’s Reina Sofía museum and the Prado.

Alborch also established a reputation as a militant feminist author, and her fight for equality earned her a long list of distinctions. In 1999, she published Solas: Gozos y Sombras de una Manera de Vivir, the first of a trilogy of feminist books, in which she reflects on the role of women and the pleasures and challenges of breaking free from the traditional idea of the home and dependence. It sold 400,000 copies.

The charming politician treasured her many friendships

Her audacious style was her very trademark. With colourful coats, mini skirts, vermilion hair and smiling red-painted lips, she described herself as a devoted and emotional person – a “crier” in her own words – who treasured her many friendships and relationships.

She often spoke of what she most valued; a lively social life and complicity in all her relationships as much as solitude and independence. She openly took pride in her choices, including that of avoiding the settling-down-with-children narrative.

Alborch died a just a few days short of her 71st birthday.

Last month, while accepting the highest public recognition in her home state of Valencia, she closed her acceptance speech by suggesting that feminism should be declared an “intangible world heritage” of humanity by Unesco, for its contribution to the wellbeing of women and men. “I’m just putting it out there,” she concluded.

Her suggestion turned into a petition, which is now on Change.org and has been swelling with support.

Her most recent non-fiction work focuses on the pleasures of old age, where she advocates for redefining what contemporary society teaches us about growing old; she also suggests that the formula for happiness is to use the economic stability and free time to pursue ones’ passions and political interests.

Since her death, prominent Spanish political and public figures, including the royal family, have lamented her departure, and she has been posthumously honoured by feminist and cultural institutions like the Prado she once helped expand.

Alborch will be remembered as an outspoken, if playful, politician.

Carmen Alborch, Spanish politician, born 31 October 1947, died 24 October 2018