Andalusian Vice Minister of Tourism Rafael Sánchez Saus Faces Falangist Past Controversy

Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of the Junta de Andalucía, defended the appointment of Rafael Sánchez Saus as vice‑consejero of Tourism despite criticism over Sánchez Saus’s early‑career involvement with the Falange Española. Moreno said he was unaware of the historic affiliation and highlighted the official’s “brilliant curriculum” and academic credentials.

Sánchez Saus, a medieval history professor and former rector of the CEU San Pablo University, acknowledged his past Falangist ties but insisted they do not shape his current political views, even expressing admiration for José Antonio Primo de Rivera. Vox justified the selection on professional merit, while opposition parties such as the PSOE and Adelante Andalucía condemned the appointment, framing it as a reminder of Spain’s authoritarian past. The controversy emerges within the first coalition government between the People’s Party and Vox in Andalusia.