The goodbye of Rosell: «We have left the boat in the right direction»

The goodbye of Rosell: «We have left the boat in the right direction»

The president of the entrepreneurs boasts of the 21 million euros left in the box and the "close" relationship with Germany

  After eight years in front of the CEOE, Juan Rosell faces his last days as president. On November 21 will be relieved by the current vice president of the organization and at the same time president of Cepyme, Antonio Garamendi, the only candidate who has stood for election. Rosell is "proud" of how he leaves the organization that represents the interests of large Spanish companies, more when he agreed at a very difficult time, after the resignation of his predecessor, Gerardo Díaz Ferrán, who ended up in jail.

"We have left the boat in the right direction, with a long journey", the Catalan entrepreneur presumed during an informal meeting he held today with some media. In fact, it has boasted that the employer has at present a liquidity of 21 million euros, which gives "the possibility of doing important things and must be done."

  The president of the CEOE has assured that, since joining the position (in 2010), they have lived "very hard years", in reference both to the economic crisis that was ravaging the country and that caused many companies to disappear from the map , as of the institutional crisis that the organization was living after the arrest and later conviction of Díaz Ferrán for several business frauds, mainly the emptying of the Marsans travel group.

Since then, many things have changed in the CEOE, as assured by Rosell, who has highlighted "key issues" that have been promoted, such as the ethical code, auditing, different legislations, the signing of the Employment Agreements and Collective Bargaining (AENC) ... In this sense, has defended once again the agreement reached with unions to raise the minimum wage to 1,000 euros per month in 2020, despite the fact that "there were people who did not see it clearly" , and considers that "it will have an important and decisive impact", while at the same time it has been contrary to the Bank of Spain's thesis that the rise to 900 euros of the SMI announced by the Government could destroy 150,000 jobs.

In addition, the Catalan manager has presumed to have had a good relationship with the different presidents that have been, both with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and with Mariano Rajoy, and having helped them in their task. "We have tried to help the government whenever we can," said Rosell, who has revealed that the "very close" relationship that the CEOE had with Germany, and more specifically with Chancellor Angela Merkel, served to provide "sensitive information" to the Executive who helped him to make decisions during the crisis.

Finally, he wanted to make clear before leaving the ship that at all times has represented the opinion of the employers, not his own, since he has let him "have been more daring in some issues." And he has shown his confidence in the future of the organization with the leadership of Garamendi. "Surely those who come, who know the house well, will do better," he predicted.