Elvira Fernández

Elvira Fernández Balboa (born 27 April 1965), also known as Viri, is a Spanish businesswoman. She is the wife of Mariano Rajoy, prime minister of Spain from 2011 to 2018.

Biography Fernández was born in Pontevedra, Galicia to Manuel Fernández (died 2002) and Elvira Balboa. Though her family were wealthy, she was educated in state schools before attending the School of Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela from 1983 to 1988. After graduating, she worked in administration in a construction company.

Fernández, then owner of a sanitation company, met Mariano Rajoy in Pontevedra in 1992, through his brother Luis. Active in the People's Party, Luis Rajoy knew Fernández's uncle Elisardo Balboa Dovalo, mayor of the resort of Sanxenxo from 1989 to 1991. The family lived in Aravaca in the northwest of Madrid before moving into the Palace of Moncloa when Rajoy became prime minister.