Catalunya president travels tourist class on first official overseas trip

mhThe regional president of Catalunya, José Montilla, has set an excellent example of austerity to other high-ranking politicians by travelling tourist class on his first official overseas visit since taking office nine months ago.Mr Montilla is being accompanied on the two-day visit to Lisbon and Oporto by a number of the region’s business leaders.

During the visit, the purpose of which is to to further develop economic relations between the two nations, the regional president has meetings planned with both the president of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and prime minister José Socrates.

Mr Montilla will be a guest of the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon, where former regional presidents, Jordi Pujol and Pasqual Maragall, also stayed when they undertoook similar missions.