On December 17, Juan Rosell the 58 year old Catalan businessman and President of the CEOE since 2010 was reconfirmed as President for a further four year term. He garnered 345 out of the 768 votes compared with 312 votes for the other candidate, Antonio Garamendi President of Cepyme (SME employers body within the CEOE). It was one of the narrowest wins in the history of the CEOE where no other president has had to contend with an opponent. This goes to show the internal tensions running through the employers’ body that has been shaken by several scandals over the questionable use of funds and influence peddling.
He had counted on support for his re-election from the large regional bodies such as the Foment de Treball Nacional Catalana, his stomping ground, and the CEIM Madrid as well as the large businesses within the CEC (Spanish Entrepreneurial Council for Competitiveness). His opponent however relied on support from the Basque and Andalousian based confederations as well as big sectoral organizations such as the Metal’s body (Confemetal), the Construction body (CNC) and the technology body (Ametic) all of which criticize Juan Rosell for the CEOE’s declining level of influence in recent years.
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