With Europe starving for vaccines, a businessman from Vigo, as much a friend of Pablo Casado as of the Russian regime, makes his way as the man who can open the doors of Spain to la Sputnik V and, incidentally, leave a historical contract in the Galician pharmaceutical company Biofabri. He is 47 years old, his name is Pedro Mouriño and he defines himself as a lifelong businessman. It handles a few and in different sectors, but the most visible is called IberAlantic, an investment group that negotiates directly with the Moscow authorities an agreement that allows the production of the Russian vaccine in the laboratories of the Zendal group.
Mouriño became known in the media because he was attributed a controversial video that revolutionized the campaign by the succession of Mariano Rajoy. It was a ‘spot’ that enraged Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, which called for an internal investigation. There were indications – never confirmed – that the mockery of the supposed renewal of Casado’s rival had come from the friend of the now popular president, with whom he shared adventures in New Generations. But Mouriño is much more than that. He is an entrepreneur with years of experience in multiple sectors, especially in that business version that some call ‘lobbying’ and that he prefers to call ‘networking’. And with a very special relationship with Russia, a country that has appointed him honorary consul in Galicia.
Europa Press
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Friendship with Casado comes from afar. The president of the PP —with whom he is now sensed disappointed— He was invited to her wedding and traveled the Camino de Santiago with him. When he decided to launch himself for the leadership of the popular, he had the full support of his intimate Galician, who collaborated in the campaign and participated as a delegate. That does not mean that his love for Russia is above cases such as Navalni or suspicions of electoral fraud. Not surprisingly, he himself participated as international observer at the 2018 presidential elections, the same ones that were denounced by the poisoned opponent. And if necessary, he tells the head of European diplomacy, his compatriot Josep Borrell, before the cameras, not meddle in internal affairs of Russia If you do not like, for example, other countries getting involved in the actions of the Spanish Police during the independence revolts.
Mouriño is a regular in the semi-public audiovisual media in Russia, who consult him on international politics in his capacity as “international observer”, CEO of IberAtlantic or “expert” in general. His relationship with the country dates back to his youth, when he was vice president and honorary president of the university organization of the European People’s Party. “I traveled all over Europe and began to make friends in the youths of the United Russia party. I met people and made contacts: ‘networking'”. Out through the party that supports Vladimir Putin, outside through other friendships, it was not long before sign a contract with the giant Gazpron to promote the South Stream in southern Europe: a gas pipeline for the transport of natural gas. “And then one thing leads to another, and that to another, and then to another.”
All are praise for Russia and its regime. “It is a magnificent country, before the pandemic I visited him ten times a year, and it is also a spectacular market niche, “he says. Such a relationship had its official recognition last November, when the Russian Foreign Ministry appointed him honorary consul. According to the embassy, with the task of” using all its efforts to the development and strengthening of the relationships of friendship and cooperation between the regions of Russia and Galicia“. It was also the embassy, and not Mouriño, who revealed his official appointment as commissioner for Sputnik V.” The IberAtlantic company is in a negotiation process with the Russian Fund for Direct Investment and the biopharmaceutical company Zendal in search of an agreement to produce the Russian vaccine in the laboratories of this corporation in Galicia “, reported this March 9 through its social networks. In the Zendal laboratories, just 20 kilometers from Vigo, another important vaccine will also be produced, that of Novavax.
It was a relative surprise, because for a long time there had been talk of the double intention of the Galician businessman: that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Sputkink V is approved and, jointly or independently, produced in Biofabri, integrated into a group whose CEO is a personal friend of Mouriño. “‘Networking’”, he insists. They are independent objectives, but not so much. “The stick in the wheels for the Russian vaccine is manufacturing and production, because the European Union demands that it be manufactured in one of the member countries, and that forces Russia to seek partners in Europe. “The resistance of the EMA in giving its arm to twist enrages the Galician.” Sooner or later the they will approve, and we are not to waste time. It’s a great vaccine, as 50 countries are already seeing. ”
José Pichel
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Among those countries, there are some of the European Union like Hungary or Slovakia that are already managing Sputnik, so Mouriño does not consider the delay of the EMA an insurmountable obstacle. It would be enough, in fact, with an authorization from the Spanish Medicines Agency to start production for distribution in other countries. “I don’t know why we have a body like the Medicines Agency if we don’t consult it. Do you know how many medicines in Spain are authorized by the EMA? 15%. This is a problem that is solved with political will.”
Pedro Mouriño blames the vaccine shortage on European authorities against whom he is dispatched without showing adherence, especially when it refers to decisions of the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “Centralized purchasing seemed like a good idea, but it has broken down and we have to act,” urges the businessman. But he hopes the decisions are reviewed and he can show off his entrepreneurial status –“In Spain they would call it influence peddling; we are like that”– to close an agreement that, he considers, would be satisfactory for all. In the meantime, he will pursue his two great passions: business and the ball. He is vice-president of a historic neighborhood football team from Vigo, the Rapido de Bouzas, of the third division. So high a priority for him that he warns the journalist: “Mess with me or Putin all you want, but if you say something about the Rapid that I don’t like, get ready.”
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With Europe starving for vaccines, a businessman from Vigo, as much a friend of Pablo Casado as of the Russian regime, makes his way as the man who can open the doors of Spain to la Sputnik V and, incidentally, leave a historical contract in the Galician pharmaceutical company Biofabri. He is 47 years old, his name is Pedro Mouriño and he defines himself as a lifelong businessman. It handles a few and in different sectors, but the most visible is called IberAlantic, an investment group that negotiates directly with the Moscow authorities an agreement that allows the production of the Russian vaccine in the laboratories of the Zendal group.
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