Nine ministerial changes for Aznar's third government

It was seven o'clock in the evening on July 9th when José María Aznar headed to the Zarzuela Palace to announce to His Majesty King Juan Carlos I the new composition of his Cabinet. Much had been speculated up to that point, but the Prime Minister surprised everyone once again with the addition of five new faces to the Executive, six departures, and three changes in ministerial portfolios.

Those leaving the government are Pío Cabanillas, Juan Carlos Aparicio, Jesús Posada, Celia Villalobos, Juan José Lucas, and Anna Birulés, who are replaced by Mariano Rajoy (First Vice President, Minister of the Presidency, and Spokesperson); Eduardo Zaplana (Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, who will now have to deal with the crisis that arose after the June 20th elections); Javier Arenas (Minister of Public Administration, who also continues as Secretary General of the PP); Ana Pastor (Minister of Health); and Josep Piqué (Minister of Science and Technology, changing portfolios again). They are joined by Ángel Acebes, who will take charge of one of the core portfolios of the new government, namely the Interior; Ana de Palacio in Foreign Affairs, who has already had the difficult task of navigating the controversy surrounding Perejil Island in Morocco; and José María Michavila in Justice.

Those who change Ministry

After holding the portfolios of Public Administration, Education and Culture, the Interior, and the First Vice Presidency, Mariano Rajoy became a key figure within the government, a minister who had been with Aznar since the latter assumed the Presidency. Now, in addition to his Vice Presidency, he also holds the portfolio of the Presidency and the role of Government Spokesperson. He leaves the Ministry of the Interior after achieving significant victories against the terrorist group, thanks to the operations carried out by the State Security Forces and the counterterrorism agreements reached with third countries.
He returns to the Ministry he previously headed, now under the name of Science and Technology. He will therefore be responsible for promoting policies to implement the information society, as well as completing the liberalization of telecommunications, the rollout of third-generation mobile telephony, the development of digital television, and the promotion of the Info XXI Plan to position Spain at the forefront of new technologies.

From Mayor of Ávila to Minister of the Interior, this 44-year-old lawyer will have to deal with difficult issues, although he is not new to the Government, having already led three departments since 1999.
The former president of the Valencian Generalitat, who twice obtained an absolute majority in the regional elections, faces a tough nut to crack: the crisis after June 20th.

The reform of the local pact, the completion of transfers such as Justice and Employment to various Autonomous Communities and local financing will be the main battleground for the Secretary General of the Popular Party.

She comes from the Undersecretariat of the Ministry of the Interior and now succeeds Celia Villalobos as Minister of Health. Among her current priorities are the presentation to Parliament of a framework statute for healthcare professions and the coordination law that would guarantee its cohesion after the transfer of powers.

It was like hitting the jackpot. Perejil Island has sparked a major controversy between Spain and Morocco that will undoubtedly keep the new Minister, who takes up the post after eight years in the EU, very busy.

After serving as Secretary of State for Justice, he now occupies the office that Ángel Acebes headed until recently. Among the challenges he will face are the Pact for Justice Reform, and specifically, implementing fast-track trials, reforming judges' salaries, and establishing a statute for prosecutors.

those who stay

Those remaining in the government presided over by José María Aznar are Rodrigo Rato (Second Vice President and Minister of Economy); Federico Trillo (Defense); Francisco Álvarez-Cascos (Public Works); Pilar del Castillo (Education, Culture and Sport); Miguel Arias Cañete (Agriculture); Jaume Matas (Environment) and Cristóbal Montoro (Finance).