The Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, has expressed her “enormous satisfaction” after being honored with the Carmen Alborch award from the PSOE of Santander, recalling the former minister as a woman who left an “indelible mark” on the culture and on Spain’s democracy.
“For me it is a true honor, a pleasure,” Redondo said, who has emphasized “the admiration and the affection” she feels for Alborch, whom she has evoked as “a reference figure”.
The Equality minister has commented that in her political circle there are those who have told her that she bears a certain resemblance to Carmen Alborch, something which, as she has admitted, “makes the recognition even more special”.
“To recognize once again Carmen as a woman who left an indelible mark and an imprint in culture but also in the democracy of this country is a source of pride,” she stressed, insisting that receiving this award means for her “an honor, a pride and an enormous satisfaction”.
Asked by the media, Redondo indicated that she also feels “very satisfied” to be in Cantabria, a land she described as “marvelous, very beautiful” and for which she feels great affection. In this regard, she criticized that “some” only remember the community “either to insult” or “to attack,” referring to the complaint filed by the Government delegate in Cantabria, Pedro Casares, after a slap by a PP councilor in Ruesga.
An award linked to feminism and equality
On Tuesday, the PSOE of Santander celebrated the VII edition of the Carmen Alborch Awards, in which Ana Redondo was honored for her feminist career, as the party reported in a statement.
During her speech, the minister defended that feminism is “a river that brings together” because “we are all part of something much more important, that transcends us, and that is why our responsibility is to give way to a better society”.
She also claimed that “let no one ever tell women that we can or cannot do things. If we want to be footballers, architects or astronauts, let no one tell us we cannot be them”.
Before more than 200 attendees at the Casino de Santander, Redondo argued that equality is “the lever on which democracy moves forward”.
"Without equality there is no freedom and without equality and freedom there is no democracy. We know where we come from; 50 years ago women were second-class citizens who needed authorization and permission from our father or husband for everything, and some want to take us back to that Spain of the NODO", she has warned.
In her speech, she recalled that "20 years ago" she saw Ana Orantes on 'prime time' denouncing male-chauvinist violence "after years of silence and shame". "She raised her voice for all those who were suffering the same thing in their homes and the voice began to be raised against machismo that kills", she said.
According to Redondo, that murder turned "male-chauvinist violence into a matter of state" and, in her view, today society continues to mobilize "against gender-based violence, vicarious violence, economic violence or violence on social networks against women".
The minister has emphasized that there is still "much to be done", recalling the 44 women murdered in 2026 and the closeness of November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Casares highlights the value of the Carmen Alborch Awards
The general secretary of the PSOE of Cantabria, Pedro Casares, has highlighted that the Carmen Alborch Awards constitute the "most important" appointment for equality in Santander and in the region.
He has pointed out that they are "some consolidated awards thanks to the effort and commitment of the socialist women of Santander, who have managed to ensure that seven editions have already been held".
About the minister, Casares has stated that Ana Redondo "is one of the indispensable ones". "Carmen Alborch would be proud that Ana Redondo takes up the baton from other great women such as Carmen Calvo, Amparo Rubiales, Pilar Bernabé, Adriana Lastra or Francina Armengol", he added.
In his view, the award symbolizes that there is "joy when women's rights move forward, when crystal ceilings are broken, or when women take on responsibilities and opportunities on an equal footing".
He has also said that, "as a socialist and feminist", he is proud that the PSOE defends that the next reform of the Spanish Constitution will serve to safeguard women's right to abortion.
Casares urged women that no one should tell them "never" what they have to do or what causes to fight for, and he insisted that "no one should ever tell you that equality is not the best horizon to defend the best Santander and Cantabria".
In this seventh edition, presented by the PSOE's secretary for Equality in Santander, Lucía Corredera, the College of Social Work, the association Más Mujeres Creativas, the women traders of the Mercado de la Esperanza, and the sports club Monte Soccer Feminas have been honored.
Casares has recalled that, if anything defined Carmen Alborch, it was being "a woman overflowing with joy," and has thanked the awardees "for the joy" they convey.
With regard to the women traders of the Mercado de la Esperanza, he has assured that they are "the soul of Santander" and "the joy" of a market which, in his opinion, reflects the best of the city.
He has also highlighted the spirit of the players of Monte Soccer Feminas, "who pick up the baton from many other women who wanted to play football, score goals, and others who were stopped."
Regarding the association Más Mujeres Creativas, he has pointed out that they have known how to combine art and equality, something he considers "an unstoppable communion." And, with respect to the Official College of Social Work, he has thanked it for its record of commitment in order to open up new opportunities for those who have lost hope.
Defense of feminism in a context of setbacks
The PSOE's general secretary in Santander, Daniel Fernández, has pointed out that "it is not easy" to defend women's rights "at a time when some seem to want to set us back 50 years."
He has denounced that "there are those who get upset because we talk about feminism. There are those who say that we have already gone too far. And there are those who even deny male-chauvinist violence."
Fernández has emphasized that feminism has not yet gone "too far," since there are still women "who are paid less, with fewer opportunities and, even, murdered."
"We still have a long way to go to achieve real equality," he concluded.
As in previous calls, the recognition has consisted of an illustration by Roberto Orallo about Carmen Alborch, who died on October 24, 2018.