Juan Alberto Belloch

Juan Alberto Belloch (born 1950) is a Spanish judge and socialist politician, who served in different cabinet posts. He served as the mayor of Zaragoza between June 2003 and 13 June 2015.

Early life and education Belloch was born in Mora de Rubielos, Teruel Province, in 1950. He graduated from the University of Barcelona with a law degree.

Career and activities Belloch worked as a judge in the Basque county. However, he was an independent member of the cabinet. who resigned from office in late April 1994. His attempts to clean the ministry of interior led to the discovery of the GAL affair which triggered the trial and arrest of the former interior minister José Barrionuevo. He became a member of the Spanish parliament in 1996, representing Zaragoza province. and served there until 2000. He ran for the mayor of Zaragoza and was elected to the post in June 2003. In 2008, he was appointed the chairman of the association of cities and regions hosting an international exposition (AVE). He attempted to make Zaragoza the European Capital of Culture for 2016.