Spanish Old Moises Broggi Senate Sets View

It is a difficult time to enter the political arena, but the months Broggi 103 years believes the state of the world, and his beloved Catalonia deserves one last burst of activity - that is why he is standing for a seat in the Senate in Spain.

If the retired doctor who represents a coalition led by the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party won a place on Nov. 20, it will be a blow to separatism and Catalan also set a record for the new age of a senator Spanish.

"Well, the party has appointed me," he said in a telephone interview from Barcelona. "I was always interested in politics and in my home country. The situation is now particularly interesting because of the problems that exist in those days. "

Broggi is the candidate most important party in Barcelona, ​​where the alliance was formed by local Social Democrats and the Greens won three seats out of four of the Spanish Parliament in 2007 elections.

This time, ERC stands in a small coalition of separatists, and seems unlikely to win a seat - unless the country style to win over the electorate Broggi.

His decision to stand as an independent in the list of the coalition, with the Catalan public health, suffering cuts to local government to drive through a rigorous program of cost reduction.

The retired physician interest in politics dates back to the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 when he served as surgeon of land for the International Brigades - the volunteer fighters from around the world who helped defend the Spanish Republic against a right-wing revolt led by General Francisco Franco.

"I met people who were important to me and they were idealists to oppose tyranny," said Broggi, whose work during the conflict, and that his fellow physicians, volunteers, many of the rules to set a field in the second surgery World War II.

He survived thanks to Franco's Spain, the protection afforded by his friends, but he was a doctor in private.

Broggi sees similarities in Catalonia, where the population is mostly bilingual 7.5 million, and the other stateless nations like Scotland.

He wants an amicable separation of Catalonia in Spain, but admits it is unlikely in the short term. "The problems are best resolved the places where they occur," he said.

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"Broggi highlighted internationally in his career and was an example of civic participation and democratic and republican values ​​throughout his long life," said Oriol Junqueras, President of the CIS.

In a statement, the party said: "The purpose of the coalition supporting Broggi is in Madrid to defend a program for achieving the independence of Catalonia, the sustainability of the welfare state and Catalan Catalan republicanism," ERC said in a statement. "

While in Madrid Broggi alien policy, the Senate has a reputation at home parents, politicians, as the outgoing Parliament, including the 88-year-old former Francoist minister Manuel Fraga.

Fraga is a founding president of the People, which looks set for victory in both the House of Commons, the Congress. Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the party, should last more than Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

So it would Broggi, which is 107 by the end of life of the Senate is able to participate in every meeting in Madrid, 300 miles away? "I do not think," he said. "I find it difficult to walk." The replacement would be named, said.