Fidel Manrique facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fidel Manrique
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| General Secretary of the CNT | |
| In office 21 July 2007 – December 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Rafael Corrales |
| Succeeded by | Alfonso Álvarez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1950 Medina del Campo, Valladolid, Spain |
Fidel Manrique Garrido, born in 1950, is a Spanish activist. He is known for his work with the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). The CNT is a large group that supports workers' rights in Spain. Manrique is a supporter of anarcho-syndicalism, which means he believes workers should control their workplaces.
About Fidel Manrique
Fidel Manrique was born in 1950 in Medina del Campo, a city in Spain. He later moved to Santander to study. In the late 1960s, he moved to Barcelona to work in the chemical industry.
Early Life and Activism
While in Barcelona, Fidel Manrique became interested in anarchism. This is a political idea that suggests people can live without a strict government. He was inspired by a book called Mutual Aid by Peter Kropotkin. Manrique then joined a group called the Iberian Liberation Movement (MIL).
Later, during a time when Spain was changing to a democracy, he moved back to Cantabria. There, he helped start a local branch of the National Confederation of Labour (CNT). This group works to improve conditions for workers.
Manrique and another person faced legal issues in 1978. They were trying to get money to support the CNT's activities. Because of this, Manrique was held for a period of time.
Leading the CNT
Even though there were different opinions within the Spanish anarchist movement, Fidel Manrique continued his activism. In 2007, he was chosen to be the General Secretary of the CNT. This is a very important leadership role within the organization. He served in this position until 2010.
In 2010, Manrique wrote an article where he shared his thoughts on democracy. He believed that voting sometimes gave too much power to a small group of politicians. He felt these politicians might be more interested in themselves than in helping everyone.
He was also concerned about the government's austerity policies. These policies often involve cutting public spending. Manrique believed these policies helped "exploiters" and wanted the CNT to stand against them. He joined a big protest called the 2010 Spanish general strike. He saw this strike as a way to help reorganize the workers' movement in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Fidel Manrique para niños
