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POLITICS

Who’s who in Spain’s new government?

Spain has a new set of ministers for the next four years. So who are the key players in Sánchez's reformed government, the familiar faces, the reshuffles, the new ministers and those who got the axe?

Published: 20 November 2023 16:27 CET
Updated: 25 November 2023 08:36 CET
Who's who in Spain's new government?
Several ministers from Sánchez's previous tenure with hold onto their roles for the next four-year government. Photos: Various photographers/AFP

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was sworn in for another term last week despite and thanks to the Catalan amnesty controversy, unveiled a new cabinet on Monday which maintains many of his ministers in their posts.

Despite having vowed to slim down his cabinet, the 51-year-old kept the number of ministerial posts at 22, 12 of them headed by women.

Sánchez has also recovered the four vice-presidencies of his first tenure, all of which will be covered by female ministers.

Hard-left coalition partner Sumar will be responsible for five ministries, the most important one being the Health Ministry.

Upon announcing his ministers, Sánchez said his cabinet was made up of “people capable of managing but also of reaching agreements and explaining them publicly”, made up “young talent” and “experience”. 

What seems clear is that Sánchez has overall preferred to surround himself with loyal ministers who’ve stuck by his side since he first won the premiership in 2018, and his exclusion of radical left Podemos ministers suggests he will look to avoid similar frictions with its new hard-left partner Sumar. 

The ministers staying in Spain’s new government

Economic Affairs Minister and First Deputy PM: Nadia Calviño

The capable economist, fluent in English and a mainstay on the European political stage, is awaiting a position as head of the European Investment Bank, meaning her tenure as number two in Sánchez’s new government could be short-lived, and possibly filled by José Luis Escrivá. 

Nadia Calviño will remain in her role of Economic Affairs Minister for now. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)
 

Minister of Labour and Second Deputy PM: Yolanda Díaz

The head of Spain’s new hard-left Sumar, which broke away from Podemos and has now replaced them as the PSOE’s junior partner in power, has been described by detractors as a ‘communist dressed in Dior’. Nevertheless, her affability and outspokenness have made her the most popular Spanish candidate in the polls before the July 2023 general election. 

Yolanda Díaz will in principle remain as Spain’s Labour Minister for the next four years. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
 

Minister of Ecological Transition and Deputy PM: Teresa Ribera

Spain’s ongoing environment minister recently went viral after riding a bike whilst escorted by security vehicles after allegedly flying into a climate summit by private jet (the latter turned out not be true). Ribera will continue to be in charge of Spain’s climate change fighting measures.

Minister of Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images via AFP)
 

Minister of Budget and Civil Service and Fourth Deputy PM: María Jesús Montero

Budget minister María Jesús Montero is known for her strong Andalusian accent as well as being the person who delivers fiscal news to Spaniards, from the ‘solidarity’ tax on millionaires to changes to capital gains. Her new role as fourth Deputy Prime Minister sees her move up within Sánchez’s government.

Spain’s Minister of Budget María Jesús Montero. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
 

Minister of Justice and Presidency: Félix Bolaños 

Bolaños has built up a reputation as Sánchez’s man for everything, having already held different roles in government since 2018. In his new position as Justice Minister (whilst keeping that of Presidency), he will have to take on the challenge of the controversial Catalan amnesty and the Socialists’ deteriorated relationship with Spain’s judicial system. 

Felix Bolaños was previously Spain’s Minister of the Presidency. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)
 

Minister of Foreign Affairs: José Manuel Albares 

Albares will continue to be Spain’s diplomat in-chief for the next four years if everything goes as planned. He’s behind Spain’s improving relationship with Morocco and will remain the face and voice of Spain during geopolitical crises and discussions. 

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP)
 

Minister of Defence: Margarita Robles 

Robles, who’s been Spain’s Defence Minister since 2018, is the most valued of Spain’s ministers according to surveys by Spanish think tank CIS, even among right-wing voters. The coordination of Spain’s military during the pandemic, periods of wildfires and the help her ministry provided to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion have ensured her popularity within and outside of Spain’s armed forces. 

Spain’s Minister of Defence Margarita Robles. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
 

Minister of the Interior: Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez 

Spain’s Home Affairs Minister since 2018 has been blamed for his handling of the country’s migration crisis but this hasn’t prevented Sánchez from keeping him in the role, even though the regional parties that the PM pandered to in order to get an absolute majority have opposed Marlaska’s reappointment. 

Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
 

Minister of Education, Sports and Government Spokesperson: Pilar Alegría 

Alegría is the only ongoing minister which will acquire a triple role in government, having been chosen by Sánchez as his Government Spokesperson and Sports Minister, as well as holding onto her position as Education Minister. 

Education Minister Pilar Alegría will take on two new roles. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)
 

Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda: Isabel Rodríguez

Rodríguez will be swapping her role as Government Spokesperson to minister responsible for fixing Spain’s ongoing housing crisis, with spiralling rents and social housing one of the biggest concerns among Spaniards.

New Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez. (Photo by Borja Puig de la Bellacasa / LA MONCLOA / AFP)
 
 

Minister of Digital Transformation: José Luis Escrivá 

Previously in the role of Minister of Social Security and Migration, Escrivá is now in charge of a new ministry which will be responsible for investing billions of euros of EU Recovery funds into companies and systems that make Spain less bureaucratic. He enjoyed middling success in his former role, which was largely focused on making official processes easier, from recruitment to social security delays.

Spain’s Minister of Digital Transformation Jose Luis Escrivá. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)
 

Two other lower key ministers who will continue to hold their ministerial positions in Sánchez’s government are Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities Diana Morant, and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas.

The ministers leaving Spain’s government

Hard-left party Podemos are the biggest losers in this latest cabinet reshuffle. Even though they only headed two departments previously, the laws Irene Montero and Ione Belarra passed during the previous legislation have all been ground-breaking but flawed, with the country’s sexual consent law passed by the outgoing Equality Minister proving particularly controversial. 

Unidas Podemos still have five seats in Parliament, which they may choose to use against the new coalition government for being cut out of power, a “mistake” according to them.

The full list of ministers leaving Spain’s government is as follow:

Minister of Equality: Irene Montero (Podemos)

Minister of Social Rights and Agenda 2030: Ione Belarra (Podemos)

Minister of Justice: Pilar Llop (PSOE)

Minister of Culture and Sports: Miquel Iceta (PSOE)

Minister of Consumer Affairs: Alberto Garzón (IU) 

Minister of Universities: Joan Subirats (Catalunya en Comú)

Minister of Health: José Miñones Conde (PSOE)

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism: Héctor Gómez (PSOE)

Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda: Raquel Sánchez (PSOE)

Spain’s new ministers

The standout news is that Spain’s Health Ministry will be headed by doctor-turned-politician Mónica García, whose party Más Madrid joined forced with Sumar’s collection of left-wing parties.

PSOE newcomers have been handed everything from the key Industry Ministry to the maligned Equality Ministry. 

The new ministers in Spain’s government are:  

Minister of Transport: Óscar Puente (PSOE)

Minister of Industry: Jordi Hereu (PSOE)

Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory: Ángel Víctor Torres (PSOE)

Minister of Culture: Ernest Urtasun (En Comú Podem/Sumar)

Minister of Health: Mónica García (Más Madrid/Sumar)

Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030: Pablo Bustinduy (Sumar)

Minister of Equality: Ana Redondo (PSOE)

Minister of Social Security and Migration: Elma Saiz (PSOE)

Minister of Children and Youth: Sira Rego (IU/Sumar)

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SPANISH LAW

Why Spain has decided not to ban pimping

The Spanish Parliament has rejected a draft bill by the ruling Socialists which proposed banning sexual procuring and toughening the country's prostitution laws. Why are both the left and the right against this sex work crackdown?

Published: 22 May 2024 16:23 CEST
Why Spain has decided not to ban pimping

This is the second attempt by the Socialists to carry out this proposed bill, which was rejected by parties on both sides of the political spectrum.

Even the government’s junior coalition partner Sumar voted against the move, as well as the PP, ERC, Junts, PNV and EH Bildu.

The bill aimed to punish all types of pimping, essentially profiting from the procuring of prostitution of others.

Currently, only pimps (proxenetas or chulos in Spanish) that carry out intimidation and violence are punishable, but PM Sánchez’s party has argued that the current wording of Spain’s Penal Code has led to “total impunity for pimping”. 

The aim was to expand upon article 187 of the Penal Code to imprison anyone who “promotes, favours or facilitates” the prostitution of another person “for profit”, with sentences of 3 to 6 years as well as fines.

This would be extended to a further 24 months in prison if violence, intimidation or deception were used and penalties of two to four years if pimping does not involve violence, even with the consent of the sex worker.

In addition, the PSOE wanted to be able to punish third parties who earn money for renting out properties for the purpose of pimping and prostitution with two to four years in prison and fines.

The Socialists also wanted to add an article so that those who pay for sex have a criminal charge. Anyone who agrees to “the practice of acts of a sexual nature in exchange for money or another type of benefit” is punished with a fine”, the bill read. 

The majority of the political parties denounced the proposal arguing that it was an “electoral” initiative.

Gala Pin, the deputy of Sumar stressed that her party couldn’t vote in favour of a bill that she has called “quite tacky”. “It proposes absolutely no solution, no itinerary, no alternative measure, no economic proposal for labour support, absolutely nothing,” she argued.

A woman holds up a sign that demands the abolition of prostitution during a demonstration with the motto “The strength of women is the future of all” in Madrid in 2021. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Other members of Sumar criticised the bill saying that it was incomplete and that it didn’t address the root of the problem. Many also believe it will criminalise sex workers place women who practice prostitution in situations of greater vulnerability, without being able to defend themselves.

The party led by Yolanda Díaz added that they were in favour of “persecuting coercive pimping” but saw “large gaps” in the PSOE law, which they do not consider comprehensive, because it does not address social and economic measures such as employability, housing or training. They don’t want to allow prostitution to be eradicated. 

READ ALSO: What’s the law on prostitution in Spain?

Sex worker María Nelly and spokesperson for Stop Abolition has requested that the government allow women to continue work in prostitution if it’s something they’ve chosen.

She argues that it doesn’t seem right that they are victimised or that their clients are seen as aggressors. Nelly also told Antena 3 that she does not approve of fines being issued to clients or to the places that provide them with safe spaces to carry out their sex work.

“The majority of girls who engage in prostitution do so freely and there are very few reports of pimping,” she stated on TV programme Espejo Público.

READ ALSO: Spain’s top court reinstates first sex workers’ union

This is now the seventh time that proposed changes to prostitution laws have been rejected in parliament. 

The last changes were proposed in June 2022 and aimed to further crack down on pimping and exploitation, and punish those purchasing sex, including harsher sentences if the victim is vulnerable or underage.

At the time, the PSOE said they would not make prostitution outright illegal, but rather the exploitative activities that surround it. 

Critics of tougher prostitution laws such as those of Nordic countries argue that they lead to greater secrecy surrounding sex work, more police persecution and deportations, as well as housing problems since it can be interpreted that any property, even the home of a woman who carries out prostitution, is used by a pimp for profit.

It’s worth noting as well that Spain is among the largest ‘consumer’ of prostitution in the world (3 in every 10 Spanish men have admitted to sleeping with a prostitute) and the industry represents as much as 0.35 percent of the country’s GDP: €4.2 billion a year. 

Between 45,000 and 120,000 women work as prostitutes in Spain, according to different estimates. 

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