Zapatero's squire who worked for Rubiales
The president of the Ateneu de Madrid parks his career as a consultant and pundit
BarcelonaThe former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has found a new ally to defend him in front of the cameras. Luis Arroyo (Madrid, 1969), a sociologist, political scientist, and supporting actor in some Spanish films and series, is, lately, a regular on the Spanish talk show panels. Now, at 57 years old, he has put his professional life on hold to defend the former president. "I am not speaking on behalf of Zapatero," he stressed in various interviews this week. "I am authorized to express the conversations I have had with him," he said. The situation is not new, because, according to sources close to him consulted by ARA, he is "very trusted by Zapatero".
The truth, however, is that Arroyo is "very proud and comfortable working for the socialists", with whom, he says, he has worked for 25 years. The consultant, who was an advisor during Zapatero's eight years in government, entered political life in April 2004 as chief of staff for Miguel Barroso when he was Secretary of State for Communication, forming the inner circle that allowed the creation of La Sexta. Subsequently, he was also chief of staff for Carme Chacón during her time as Minister of Housing and also worked in the cabinet of María Teresa Fernández de la Vega in the Presidency. Since then, "most of his clients are from the socialist sphere. He has done campaigns and strategies for the socialists," affirm those who have known him for years.
The cherry on top, however, is his advice to the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales,
The cherry on top, however, is his advice to the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, in the wake of the controversy following the non-consensual kiss to footballer Jenni Hermoso in August 2023. Arroyo, hired by the RFEF as an external advisor with the aim of boosting Spain's reputation for the 2030 World Cup bid, drafted a text to try to improve Rubiales' image, in which he did not resign his position, but did value the idea. The text, however, was shelved when Rubiales himself went on to state, up to five times, his famous "I will not resign" to the complicit applause of the Federation's top brass.