El ministro de Defensa de Francia en El Arenal (Ávila)

August 19, 2013. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was honored in El Arenal, where he personally paid tribute to the neighboring country in a town that saw hundreds of its residents emigrate in search of work. Years later, the residents of El Arenal returned, bringing with them the family ties they had forged. This is the case for the minister, who travels to El Arenal every summer because it is the birthplace of his wife, María Ángeles Vadillo, and where they own a home. For this reason, Le Drian was honored and received the key to the town—"the key to friendship and to hearts," he said—the mayoral staff, and the title of ambassador of Gredos on his last day in Spain, on a very hot afternoon as he returned from a meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Morenés. He spoke with him about collaboration between the two countries and about a "Europe of security": "Perhaps one day they will be able to say that new steps in defense of Spaniards and French, and also for Europe, were taken in the Sierra de Gredos and in El Arenal." Grateful for the recognition, the French minister called for solidarity and Europeanism, because after comparing the "difficult times" when Spaniards emigrated with the present, he said that "solidarity and more Europe than ever before are essential" to "help everyone overcome these difficulties." At the beginning of his speech, he wanted to reveal two "confidences." One of them was that the President of the French Republic asked the ministers to return to work soon, specifically on August 19, but Le Drian warned him that he would be honored, so François Hollande told him that between Paris and El Arenal, he should choose the latter. The other person who did "very well" to marry his wife, something he said he "already knew," but which he "knows even more now." Le Drian joked, after receiving the mayoral staff as mayor for the day, and asked the residents to "calm down" until he went to bed. Monday was the last day of the summer festivities, established decades ago in honor of the emigrants who returned in the summer. On Wednesday, he will see Hollande and tell him about the tribute, as he has promised. For his part, the mayor, José Luis Troitiño, recalled "the years when El Arenal lived off France," since the first emigrants began to leave in the early 1960s. Some did not return, and others did, gradually: in fact, 20 percent of the current residents receive a pension or supplementary payment for the years they worked in France. "We are indebted to the people and the French government," he said, while also highlighting "the French presence and culture" in the town, where the tricolor flag always flies at the Town Hall. One of the councilors is French and divides his time between Spain and Brittany, and a twinning agreement with Sabres, in Aquitaine, has been maintained for years. The mayor assures that 90 percent of the residents understand French, and in many cases "the words stick," as when they refer to garbage using its French term, poubelle. At the Franco-Spanish twinning ceremony, the minister received the key to El Arenal, a replica of the town square, and a book on the history of emigration, in addition to being appointed ambassador of Gredos—which he said he knows well—presented by the president of the Provincial Council, Agustín González. The Deputy Government Delegate, José Luis Rivas, expressed his gratitude "on behalf of the Spanish Government and people." The national anthems of both countries, performed by the local brass band, were the sound that kicked off an event that ended with the town's traditional serenade.