Manuel Fraga Iribarne | Spanish politician, 89

Manuel Fraga Iribarne, 89, a blunt-talking politician who founded Spain's ruling conservative party and ignited divisive reactions as the last surviving minister from Gen. Francisco Franco's right-wing regime, died of heart failure Sunday at his Madrid home, the Spanish news agency Europa Press reported, citing a family member.

In a career spanning 60 years, Mr. Fraga served as Franco's information and tourism minister and as Spain's interior minister after the dictator died in 1975. But the job he coveted most - prime minister - always eluded him. Still, his influence on the country remained lasting.

Most Franco ministers quickly faded into obscurity after democracy was restored in 1978, but Mr. Fraga soldiered on. He helped write Spain's democratic Constitution that was passed that year. He nudged Franco loyalists toward the political center, founded what is now the Popular Party, and groomed Jose Maria Aznar to replace him as leader of the Spanish right in 1989.

In the post-Franco years, he ran his native Galicia region with a tight grip for 15 years and then settled into a seat in the Spanish Senate.

As tourism minister, Mr. Fraga worked to open up Spain to the outside world and bring in cash-laden visitors. He is also credited with transforming northwestern Galicia - traditionally one of Spain's poorest, most backward regions - by building modern roads, bridges and other infrastructure, much of it paid for with European Union funds.

In 2001, Mr. Fraga offered no apologies for his part in Spain's four decades of dictatorship. "One cannot choose the period of history in which one lives," he said. - AP