José Barrionuevo

José Barrionuevo (born 13 March 1942) is a Spanish former politician. He was the minister of interior from 1982 to 1988. He was jailed from 1998 to 2001 due to his involvement actions against ETA members in the Basque Conflict.

Early life and education Barrionuevo was born in Berja near Almería in 1942. He obtained bachelor degrees in law and journalism.

Career and activities Barrionuevo was a member of the pro-Franco student union where he likely met Rodolfo Martín Villa, then interior minister. He succeeded Juan José Rosón in the post.

Barrionuevo followed the security policies set by his predecessor. However, in early 1983 he and other security officials created a new operational strategy known as Plan Zona Especial Norte (Spanish: Plan ZEN, Plan Special Zone North) to reduce and eliminate the effects of the separatist group ETA in the Basque region. Barrionuevo became the minister of transport, tourism and communications in the same reshuffle.

Controversy Barrionuevo was unpopular during his tenure as interior minister due to his harsh and violent policies against Basque separatists. In May 1994, newly appointed interior minister Juan Alberto Belloch, who was also justice minister in the cabinet of Felipe González, began to reorganize the ministry of interior. A network, later called GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación), was discovered as a result of his efforts. Based on these statements Barrionuevo and other former security officials were tried in 1996 and "accused of funding and directing more than two dozen murders" of separatists during the 1980s.

On 24 January 1996, he and his former deputy Rafael Vera were found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of their involvement in a "Dirty War" against the ETA. They were imprisoned on 29 July 1998. Therefore, their memberships to the GAL was legally established. However, they have denied the charges,

Barrionuevo and Vera were accompanied and hugged by González on their way to prison, where they served a three-month term. They were pardoned in 2001. José Luis Corcuera, who succeeded him as interior minister, was also tried with him.

Personal life Barrionuevo is married and has three children.