Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún

Who was Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún?

Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún was a Spanish politician and businessman as well as being a doctor in economics and law who was best known as being the mayor of Madrid from 1989-1991.

He studied law at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, a city in which for some time he devoted to various activities in the publishing business. In 1976 he started the business Segovian Business Federation A year later, in 1977, he participated in the founding of the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises, of which he was elected president.

His career in politics began on 24 February 1978, when he became part of the Union of the Democratic Centre. The following year, in February 1979, took over the defence portfolio, a post he held during the 23-F coup d'état on 23 February 1981. In the March 1979 General Election he was elected MP representing Vizcaya Province.

In February 1981 he was elected chairman of the UCD, though he resigned from the party in August 1982 to accompany Adolfo Suárez in the creation of a new party, the Democratic and Social Centre. The CDS fared poorly in the 1982 General Election, losing 14 of its sitting 16 MPs. Rodríguez, together with Suárez were the only CDS MPs to hold their seats with Rodríguez representing Ávila Province. He was re-elected at the 1986 General Election.