Overview
José María Álvarez del Manzano y López del Hierro (born 17 October 1937) is a Spanish politician affiliated with the centre-right People's Party (Partido Popular). He is best known for serving three terms as Mayor of Madrid between 1991 and 2003 and for directing Madrid's main trade-fair institution, IFEMA, for more than two decades.
Political career and roles
Álvarez del Manzano built a long municipal career within the conservative political tradition that later coalesced into the People's Party. Over several decades he held elected office and party positions in Madrid, becoming a prominent local figure across the 1990s and early 2000s. His public profile combined municipal administration with active participation in civic and commercial boards.
Mayor of Madrid (1991–2003)
As mayor, Álvarez del Manzano presided over a period of economic growth and urban change in Spain's capital. His administrations prioritized public works, transport infrastructure, and projects intended to modernize the city’s services. Municipal initiatives under his leadership included investments in roads, public facilities and programs to support cultural events and tourism, reflecting the broader trend of urban renewal in European capitals at the time.
IFEMA and institutional leadership
Following and overlapping his municipal work, Álvarez del Manzano chaired the board of IFEMA, Madrid’s principal organisation for exhibitions, trade fairs and congresses, a role he kept for 24 years until stepping down in 2015. Under such long-term stewardship IFEMA consolidated its position as a national venue for large-scale fairs and professional gatherings, contributing to Madrid’s profile as a business and events hub.
Legacy and assessment
His long tenure left a mixed legacy: supporters credit him with helping to professionalize municipal management and promoting economic activity, while critics pointed to debates common in large cities—over priorities in urban planning, traffic and environmental impacts, and the balance between public investment and private development. After leaving the mayoralty in 2003 he remained influential in public and private circles in Madrid, continuing to appear in institutional and advisory roles.