Dismay in the PSOE and in Congress over the death of José de Francisco, Batet's chief of staff

The director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of Congress, José de Francisco, who died this Friday, and the president of the Lower House, Meritxell Batet. CONGRESS (Europa Press)

José de Francisco, director of the cabinet of the current president of Congress, Meritxell Batet, and former Secretary of State for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs with the second government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, died this Friday at the age of 58 in Madrid due to a cancer he suffered from. De Francisco was a highly appreciated person among the socialist ranks, especially among the deputies of various legislatures who shared hours and hours with him in Congress. But also among those of other parties. Both have highlighted De Francisco's personality, respectful, hard-working and open, and his ability to reach agreements.

Born in 1963, he was married with two daughters. He had a degree in Law and a diploma in legal practice and began his professional career in Congress in 1993 as a legal adviser to different parliamentary groups, while in 2004 he was General Director of Relations with the Courts in the Ministry of the Presidency. Secretary of State for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs from 2009 to 2011, he also served as director of the Legal Cabinet of the socialist group, although since July 2019 he was director of the Cabinet of the President of Congress.

The Cortes Generales, the Government and the PSOE have shown their dismay.

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has been one of the first to lament this morning on Twitter the death of this Court official who was on leave of absence.

Sánchez has stated in a tweet that "a magnificent public servant and a great colleague has left us", while the Executive's spokesperson, Isabel Rodríguez, has recalled "everything" that she loved him as a person and professional.

Dismayed after learning of the death of José de Francisco.

A magnificent public servant and a great colleague leaves us.

He dedicated part of his life to parliamentary activity and worked tirelessly to strengthen our democracy.

My heartfelt hug to your family.

pic.twitter.com/nSh7Gii3ps

– Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 14, 2022

“Today I want to share my sorrow because you leave us too soon.

As smart as honest.

As hardworking as generous.

Humanly giant.

Thank you for so much, partner," the minister said in a tweet while the president of Congress, Meritxell Batet, wrote "the infinite sorrow for having to say goodbye" to one of his close collaborators.

"Dear friend, brilliant, intelligent, great connoisseur of parliamentarism and one of the most loved and respected people in Congress", Batet has influenced, while the Secretary of State for Relations with the Courts has "deeply" lamented his death.

The third vice president of Congress, Ana Pastor, from the PP, has sent her condolences to Batet and the family on the death of "a great person and a great public servant", since throughout the day, Batet has remembered him as a person with which "nobody has ever had a bad word against him" and that "he only sowed respect, consideration and affection".

The president of the Senate, Ander Gil, has also lamented on Twitter: "Another great one who is leaving us... Always at the foot of the canyon and such a good professional as a person."

"Parliamentary life is not going to be the same from now on", he pointed out while showing his condolences to the family along with other socialist ministers and deputies who have also honored him.

“Today a colleague is leaving, a good person.

José de Francisco has been for many years a public servant dedicated to promoting the work of this parliamentary group in the Congress of Deputies.

Our condolences to family and friends," said the socialist group while its spokesman, Héctor Gómez, highlighted in a tweet his person "so valuable and tireless worker for the strengthening of democracy."

"We will miss José de Francisco very much, his humanity, his warmth and his efficiency", highlighted the Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta, while the Deputy Secretary General of the PSOE, Adriana Lastra, stated that "there are people whose loss leaves a enormous emptiness in all of us who knew him.

José de Francisco has been a great colleague and a beautiful person.”

De Francisco's body was transferred this Friday to the La Paz funeral home.