When Almudena Grandes died on November 27 at the age of 61 from cancer, contemporary Spanish literature lost one of its most notable authors. And, although we still have her latest novel, which will be published posthumously soon, her name will also come to mind every time we arrive or leave Madrid by train. Station “Gate of Atocha-Almudena Grandes” The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, has announced that it will be the new official name of the Madrid plant.
The government wants change the official name of several of the large stations of the railway network to give them the name of a woman and the Puerta de Atocha station in Madrid will be the first to do so adding the name of the writer from Madrid. With this initiative, as explained by the minister, the aim is to “make visible the names and figures of women that history has made invisible”.
In this way, throughout the year the network’s main stations will begin to be named after a woman, which will be added to others that already have one, such as Madrid’s Chamartin – Clara Campoamor and the station Malaga – Maria Zambrano.
The news comes a few days after the capital’s City Council approved, after months of opposition from the right, declare the writer the capital’s favorite daughter. She thus becoming the first woman not related to royalty to receive that title.
The funny point has been put by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid who, when asked about her opinion on the matter, has said in a veiled and bizarre way of expressing that he was against:
“What we know is that the government wants to name other stations after a woman and give them this name, after a woman. And what I believe is that the Virgin of Atocha was already a woman”. then she stayed looking at the journalists with the face of circumstances for a few eternal seconds while laughter was heard in the background.
Ayuso, about adding the name of Almudena Grandes to the Atocha station: “The virgin of Atocha was already a woman”https://t.co/xHVrCwQpZi pic.twitter.com/ve7RNRUzNX
— elDiario.es (@eldiarioes) March 3, 2022
Photos | gtres