Pedro Rico López

Pedro Rico López (1888 – 1957) was a Spanish Republican politician. He served as mayor of Madrid from 1931 to 1934 and again in 1936, during the Second Spanish Republic.

The Spanish Civil War broke out in July 1936, and Madrid was besieged by Nationalists. Rico left his office and headed towards Valencia in November. He was intercepted at Tarancón by anarchists, decried as a coward and sent back to the capital, where he sought asylum in the Mexican Embassy. He spent the rest of the war in Paris, Brussels and Barcelona before the defeat of the Republic.

Rico lived in France for most of his exile, apart from attending the Cortes republicanas in Mexico in 1945. During World War II, he was persecuted by the Vichy France authorities. He was attacked by Francoist Spain for his alleged corruption and obesity, and his death at age 69 was barely mentioned by the regime's press.

Biography Early life and terms as mayor Born in Madrid, Rico graduated with a law degree in 1910. He became active in republicanism and joined the Republican Action group led by Manuel Azaña. He was elected mayor of Madrid in the 1931 Spanish local elections that coincided with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic.

Rico was removed from office in October 1934 as the Asturian miners' strike broke out. In February 1936, he returned to being mayor after the Popular Front won the national election. Weighing 130 kg, he was known for enjoying the limelight, commissioning Agustín Segura to paint him wearing a sash of the flag of the Second Spanish Republic. He also attended the 1936 final of football's Copa del Presidente de la República (now Copa del Rey) in Valencia, on the invitation of Rafael Sánchez Guerra, president of Madrid CF (now Real Madrid CF), and put on celebrations for his winning local team.

In 2021, Rico's art collection was returned to his two grandchildren, under the Historical Memory Law.