The mayor of Lalín confirms the appointment of the regional minister due to her commitment to Lalín in key projects linked to her department.
The mayor of Lalín, José Crespo, announces the appointment of María Martínez Allegue, Regional Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Planning of the Regional Government of Galicia, as the new Commander of the Cocido 2026.
Crespo emphasises that ‘this appointment recognises Martínez Allegue's receptiveness to Lalín in the areas of infrastructure and housing, as well as her sensitivity and constant willingness to listen and respond to requests from Lalín in matters related to her department's remit, which highlights her role in promoting strategic projects for the municipality’.
Born in Pontevedra, Martínez Allegue has a degree in Law and is a career civil servant in the local administration with national accreditation, belonging to the sub-scale of Secretariat-Intervention and the sub-scale of Secretariat of Entry. Her professional career includes responsibilities in various Galician town councils: she served as secretary-auditor in the Lousame Town Council, secretary in the Tui and Mos Town Councils and treasurer in the Marín Town Council.
Between 2010 and 2015, she was director general of the Agency for the Protection of Urban Legality (APLU). Subsequently, between 2015 and 2023, she was provincial area manager of the Galician Institute of Housing and Land (IGVS) in Pontevedra, and between 2023 and 2024 she held the position of regional manager of Infrastructure and Mobility in the same province. Since April 2024, she has been Regional Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Planning for the Regional Government of Galicia, heading one of the regional government's strategic areas.
A list of high-level commendators
With this appointment, the Encargo del Cocido 2026 now has the following confirmed commendators:
Diego González Rivas, world-renowned thoracic surgeon and announcer of the Fair.
Irene Villa, writer, psychologist and international reference in personal development.
Luis de la Fuente, national football coach.
Ramiro Mejuto, prominent businessman from Lalín in the refrigeration sector.
Jorge Mira, physicist and science communicator, Galicia Research Medal and Award from the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain.
Almudena Maíllo, Councillor for Tourism at Madrid City Council and Secretary General of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI).
Antonio Chaves Cuiñas, writer, painter and collector, who provided decisive support for the promotion of the Galician Toy Museum-A. Chaves Collection in Lalín (Pazo de Liñares).
