The brothers of Hope of Cordoba are called to the polls this Sunday 20 to decide whether they support the candidacy of Pilar Rojas to the older sister. It is the end of the mandate of Rafael Garcia Cerezowho in more than seven years has acted especially in the passage of the palio, with the reform of the dimensions and with the approval in the general council of the project of Gonzalo Navarro. In this interview, he takes stock.
-He brought forward the elections when he still had a year left. What happened?
-Actually, I haven’t moved forward a year either. They should have been summoned in June 2025, in principle it is not that long. We are talking about six months, although it is true that during these six months there are sects, penance post and the May cross. And I did it out of exhaustion, because I didn’t feel qualified for the tasks of my position, with the rigor that should be required. There was also changes in my family and professional life.
– What do you expect from the town hall elections this Sunday?
-La Esperanza is characterized by turbulent electoral processes. I hope and wish that this goes smoothly. There is a candidate which is presented, accompanied by a board of directors, although it is true that the brothers have received little information about who makes it up, how they are going to do their work and what projects will develop. I want to think that the town hall elections will take place peacefully.
-Are you afraid it won’t be like that?
– Any board of directors must guarantee the image of the fraternity and defend the interests of the institution, above any group or individual. It should not be forgotten that above suits, dresses or ties, you have to put on the medal, and that must take precedence.
-Are you concerned that when we talk about electoral processes we always talk about gangs and hammers?
-I didn’t do it and I respected everything that was there. The groups are not questioned, it would be crazy if anyone did. As for the hammers, it’s more delicate, I haven’t done it and it worked well for me.
-From the outside it seems that the crews are very united around their owners and foremen.
-In principle yes. That of the Lord has been very consistent for a long time. We did not renew Rafael Ramírez Galvín as foreman of the Virgin for 2024. We appointed Antonio Barbudo, who did not work, because he remained with the Dulce Numéro during the passage of the Vera Cruz on Palm Sunday. We trusted Marcos de la Virgen and even though we didn’t go out on Palm Sunday, the rehearsals went very well.
-Are you satisfied with the mandate?
-I would classify it as acceptablealthough I admit to having made mistakes. I leave with the awareness of having acted to safeguard the interests of the institution. I would also like to apologize to family and friends, during these years that I have not been.
“The canopy project must be considered ours, because it was approved during a very large general council”
-And there remains the canopy project, which will now have to be shaped.
– I always said that I had no desire to release anything. The project has been talked about for as long as I can remember, but no one bothers. We found the project practical and it began to be implemented. What I am happy about is that begin. If it sees the light of day, I will be very satisfied.
-Are you convinced that this will continue to happen?
-They must take on the canopy project as their own, because it was approved by a very large general council. There must be a continuity which is not subject to someone’s taste or the arbitrariness of an encounter, and this must be done with rigor. Since the beginning we have made a lot of progress, since it is a complete project with the same Sucesores de Caro workshop, and the facade is being finished. Every brother should feel extremely proud. Every time you make a request It’s the brotherhood that pays. The back mesh is done, as are the fringes of the two curtains. It advances with solvency.
