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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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POLITICS

Spanish government begins proceedings to outlaw Franco Foundation

Spain's Ministry of Culture has opened legal proceedings to shut down the 'Fundación Francisco Franco', a group dedicated to the dictator who ruled Spain for almost forty years.

Published: 21 June 2024 10:41 CEST
Spanish government begins proceedings to outlaw Franco Foundation

Spain’s Ministry of Culture has begun the process of outlawing the Fundación Francisco Franco because it fails to comply with the Democratic Memory Law, controversial legislation passed two years ago by the ruling Socialists (PSOE) to try and help Spain come to terms with its dictatorial past.

The foundation, which essentially promotes the legacy of former dictator General Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975, was founded in 1976 and presents itself as a “cultural institution without political affiliation”. It also sells nationalist memorabilia and books.

Among many admiring articles on its website, the foundation claims that Franco helped lay “the foundations on which it was possible for the democracy we enjoy to be built” and that “his successes are considerably greater than his mistakes.”

READ ALSO: 13 changes you may have missed about Spain’s new ‘Civil War’ law

The Ministry explained that it started legal proceedings to shut down the foundation “because it is considered contrary to the general interest to defend Francoism”. The move, which will likely prove controversial in Spain, has been justified by the government because it “complies with the provisions of the Democratic Memory Law.”

The legal justification is an article of the law that outlaws any group “that glorifies the coup d’état and the dictatorship or extols its leaders, with contempt and humiliation of the dignity of the victims of the coup d’état, the war or Francoism, or direct or indirect incitement to hatred or violence against them because of their status as such.”

The Democratic Memory Law, sometimes also referred to as the Historical Memory Law, was passed in October 2022 and is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that aims to settle Spanish democracy’s debt to the past and deal with the complicated legacies of its Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.

READ ALSO: Spain to relocate remains of Franco’s fascist allies to more low-key grave

The Spanish right has long been opposed to any kind of historical memory legislation, claiming that it digs up old rivalries and causes political tension. Spain’s centre-right party, the Partido Popular, pledged at the time to overturn the law if it entered government.

Among many other measures, the law made the search and excavation of mass graves the responsibility of the government, started DNA banks to identify victims, and annulled Franco-era convictions.

Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun stated in the Spanish press that the decision will ultimately be made by the courts. “Basically what we are doing is starting the implementation of the Democratic Memory Law,” he said.

The Franco Foundation said in a press statement that “we find it incomprehensible” that the law is being “directed exclusively against the Francisco Franco National Foundation.”

The process is expected to be lengthy and could involve several levels of the Spanish judiciary. The Franco Foundation may appeal any decision.

Democratic memory legislation is one of a series of steps by the PSOE government to make amends with the past, including exhuming Franco’s body and moving his body to a private family grave in 2019.

The Franco dictatorship is in living memory for many Spaniards and still an emotive issue. Critics argue historical memory legislation digs up historical divisions, and several right-wing run regions of Spain have attempted to repeal the Democratic Memory Law, including Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and Castilla y León.

READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: Franco exhumed, transported by helicopter, and reburied as Spain takes ‘step towards reconciliation’

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