Francisco Fernández Marugán, who was a leader of the PSOE, held the position of MP for eight legislatures and served as interim Ombudsman for four years, has passed away at the age of 79, according to sources from the PSOE communicated to EFE. Born in Cáceres in 1946 and with a background in economics, he joined the party in 1974. He secured his first seat in Congress in 1982 and retired from the Chamber in 2011, after having been an MP for 29 years. In 1984, he joined the Executive Committee of the PSOE, where years later he took on responsibilities in the Finance area and the position of treasurer of the PSOE, replacing Guillermo Galeote due to the investigation of the ‘Filesa case’ related to the irregular funding of the party. He participated in the drafting of the law on the financing of political parties, in legislation on strikes, and in the creation of electoral programmes. In 2021, he was appointed as the first deputy of the Ombudsman and assumed leadership of that institution on an interim basis in 2017, following the resignation of Soledad Becerril, remaining in the role until 11 November 2021, when he was replaced by Ángel Gabilondo. On social media platforms, condolences and expressions of affection have arrived from socialist colleagues, including the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García Page, who described him as a politician and an MP, highlighting his trajectory based on equality, honesty, and social commitment. Paco Marugán has left us, a socialist from Extremadura and one of the MPs I have had the pleasure of knowing. Working alongside him in Congress for several years was a fortune. Rest in peace.
