Spanish government

1. Spanish Government
Who's who in the Spanish Cabinet.
President of the Government:
Jose Luís Rodríguez Zapatero
Jose Luís Rodríguez Zapatero was born in 1960 in Valladolid in the breast of a family of average class and socialist tradition.
He was elected President of the Government March 14, 2004 . He passed his infancy in León, city where he did his Law
studies. He affiliated in his youth to the Spanish Socialist Party and by 1986 he was the youngest representative of the
Congress. He was elected general Secretary of his party, after the failure in the elections of his ancestor Joaquín
Almunia [More]
First Vicepresident and Minister of Presidency:
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega
Fernández de la Vega was born in 1949 in Valencia. Single woman and feminist, at the beginning of the 70 she graduated and
doctorated in Law studies. With the government of Felipe González, she was head of the cabinet of the Department of Justice
between the years 1982 and 1985, later on, she would have other charges during the socialist phase, as Justice State secretary,
or General Secretary of the Socialist Group in the Congress. In spite of her thin appearance, she is a woman with a strong
personality.
Second Vice President and Minister of Economy:
Pedro Solbes
Born in 1942 in Alicante, Pedro Solbes he was already the Minister of Economy in the last legislature of Felipe González. He
studied European Economy and he graduated in the studies of Law, he doctorated in Political Sciences. His first position was
regional delegated of Commerce in Valencia since 1968 until 1973, later on he would occupy diverse charges with different
governments, until he came to occupy the Department of Agriculture and Fishing in 1991 and the Economy one,in 1993,
without being a militant of the Spanish Socialist Party. In 1999 he was named responsible for the accounts receivable of
Monetary and Economic Matters of the European Commission, being a great defender of the European unique currency
Minister of Exterior Matters:
Miguel Angel Moratinos
Moratinos was born in 1951. In 1996 he was named, while he was an ambassador in Israel, first European mediator in Middle
East. Certainly this man has invested a lot of time as a diplomat in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. During this period he was on
the verge of obtaining a peace Treaty at the beginning of 2000, nevertheless just after the Second Intifada would explode, a rise
of violence that since that year to the present time it has become a war that has not been declared. In 2003 he was replaced by
Marc Otte. In his return to Spain Zapatero called him to form part in his electoral campaign and after the socialist victory he
was named Minister of Exterior Matters and Cooperation. Just as he confesses, his decision to support Zapatero it was owed to
the "climate of agitation" that the Spanish political life lived in recent years of the conservative period .
Minister of Work, Social Matters and Immigration:
Jesús Caldera
Born in 1957, Jesus Caldera is a new face who is at the head of the public, nevertheless in 1982 he was already a socialist
representative. Next to José Blanco, he has been the right hand of Zapatero, while he was in the opposition. In 1998 he began
to appear like the spokesman of his parliamentary group. Due to his importance in the party during the previous phase, it was
expected that Cadera would occupy the position of vice president. In his charge as the Minister of Work and Exterior Matters
reforms are expected in immigration, the right of homosexuals and a law against the abuse to women.
Minister of Justice:
Juán Fernando López Aguilar
He was born in Canarias in 1961. He became militant of the Spanish Socialist Party in 1983. In 1990 he was named executive
advisor of the Department of Justice. Since 1996 he became representative. Since the appointment of Zapatero as general
Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Party he has occupied positions of importance in the direction of his party.
Minister of Public Works:
Magdalena Álvarez
Born in Cadiz in 1952, Magdalena Álvares feels very nearby to whom she considers her city: Malaga. She is doctor in
economics and Business. Between the years 1977 and 1990 she exercised as teacher of economy in the National
Univercity of Education by Distance. She has occupied various economic charges of importance, such as responsible for
Economy and Treasury of the government of Andalucia. In the year 2000 she became representative in the Parliament.
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism:
José Montilla
José Montilla was born in 1955 in Iznájar, a town of Cordoba. His family moved in 1971 to Barcelona where he
initiated his political path by affiliating to the Spanish Socialist Party and the working union UGT in 1978, year of the
Constitution. Since the mid 90's he has had posts of great responsibility in the catalan branch of his party, the PSC. In
the year 2000 he was electedmember of the direction of the Spanish Socialist Party. .
Minister of culture:
Carmen Calvo

2. Born in 1957, in Cordoba, graduated in Law studies and she doctorated in Constitutional Law. In 1996 she formed part
of the Counsel of Government of Andalusia, becoming inthe year 2000 , the counselor of Culture. In 2004 she became
Member of Parliament, representing the province of Cordoba. With established feminist ideals, she is very fond of
reading and she is co-author of various books, such as “La mujer en España” or “Política Social para la Igualdad de los
sexos”. She says that she loves music, from classical music to rock. Her first error as Minister, very criticized in the
opposition like by musicians and consumers, because she promised a discount of the taxes on Cd´s to cheapen the prices
and thus to fight against the piracy, when this measure is prohibited by the European common politics.
Minister of Health and Consume:
Elena Salgado
Elena Salgado was born in 1949. She finished the career of Industrial Engineering in 1972. At the beginning of the 90's
she was named general secretary of Communications of the old Department of Public Works, Transportations and
Environment, which at present they do not exist like such.
Minister of Agriculture and Fishing:
Elena Espinosa
Born in Ourense in 1960, graduated at the beginning of the 80's in economics and Business.
Minister of Dwelling:
María Antonia Trujillo
Born in Badajoz, graduated at Law studies in 1985, obtaining the doctorate in 1991. She was named five years later
counselor in the Social and Economic Counsel of Extremadura, becoming the attendant of the Counsel of Promotion of
the government of Extremadura in the year 2003. She keeps a good relation with Rodriguez Ibarra, president of
Extremadura.
Minister of Environment:
Cristina Narbona
Narbona was born in Madrid in the year 1951. Since she was small she was surrounded by journalists. In 1963 she
emigrated to Rome, where she would carry out the career of Economisc. In 1982 she became vice-councillor of
economics of the Andalusian government. After being named Secretary of Environment and Dwelling, she announced
her sentimental relation with JosepBorrell, present socialist representative in the European Parliament. .
Public Administration:
Jordi Sevilla
Born in 1956 he was adviser of International Relations during various years of the government of Felipe Gonzalez. In
1991 he occupied an important position in the Department of Agriculture until 1993 where he was passedto the
Department of Economy. Between 1998 and 2000 he was a person of great importance as adviser of the
socialist parliamentary group, the one he could gain admition in July of 2000 after standing up for member of
Parliament.