Seville mourns former mayor Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, dead at 69 after long illness

Death and mourning

Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín, former mayor of Seville and former president of the Diputación de Sevilla, died on 26 October 2026 after a long and serious illness. The plenary president, Manuel Alés, announced the death during an extraordinary council session on fiscal ordinances, and the chamber observed a minute of silence. eldiario.es reported that he was 69 and gave Sunday as the day of death, adding that he had not overcome the aftereffects of a severe stroke suffered in 2023. Most other reports place the death on 26 October.

Official mourning and funeral

The Diputación de Sevilla, led by Javier Fernández, declared two days of official mourning. The city council, led by mayor José Luis Sanz, set the same period from 12:00 on 26 October, and the municipal flag will fly at half-mast on public buildings. The family turned down a wake in City Hall, so the body will lie at the Tanatorio de la SE-30 from midday, and the funeral is set for Tuesday, 27 October. In an audio message to the media, Sanz said he disagreed with Monteseirín ideologically but praised his courage in pushing changes that caused controversy at the time and later became consolidated.

“My embrace and my most sincere memory go to all his relatives and friends.”

Tributes from the political world

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is also PSOE secretary general, wrote on X that Monteseirín had devoted his life to improving people's lives.

“A life dedicated to improving people's lives. That is the legacy of Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín.”

The PSOE-A secretary general, María Jesús Montero, paid tribute on social media and described him as a visionary who changed the city for the better.

“We are losing a great politician and a visionary who transformed Seville into a more humane, accessible and egalitarian city.”

Former regional president Susana Díaz expressed sadness at the death, while Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno praised his bold and transformative measures as mayor. Juan Espadas, the Socialist spokesman in the Senate and a former mayor, spoke of his legacy and of his focus on neighbourhoods.

A career in local politics

Monteseirín was born in La Rinconada, Seville, on 25 September 1957, and was president of the Diputación from 1995 to 1999. He became mayor of Seville in 1999 and held the post until July 2011, governing three legislatures without an absolute majority. Reports describe him as the longest-serving mayor of the city since the 19th century. During his time in office he pushed for the tram, a bike lane network, the pedestrianisation of the city centre, the redevelopment of the Alameda de Hércules and the Metropol-Parasol project. He trained as a physician at the University of Seville, served as a councillor in Burguillos from 1979 to 1987 and chaired the Andalusian federation of municipalities and provinces (FAMP). Antonio Muñoz, spokesman of the Socialist municipal group, said Seville is a different city thanks to him.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday, 27 October.