A new look cabinet heralds the new political legislature in Spain

A new look cabinet heralds the new political legislature in Spain
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By h.b. - Apr 13, 2008 - 8:50 PM

The Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, being congratulated by the Partido Popular leader, Mariano Rajoy, after being invested last Friday - Photo EFE

Indications are that the next four years of politics in Spain are going to be somewhat different than the last four, not least because the state of the economy will dominate for a time.

EDITORIAL COMMENT
It’s all change in the Spanish political arena as the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero names his new cabinet. There were a few surprises in the choices made, but on reflection they show the Zapatero we already know. More women than men and a new Ministry for Equality shows a real commitment to readdressing the balance between the sexes in a country where the macho culture is renowned.

The changes also reveal the Prime Minister’s loyalty to old friends, with his close friend Miguel Sebastián, who failed miserably as Socialist candidate for Mayor of Madrid, being brought into the powerful Ministry for Industry where we can expect a counter-balance to Pedro Solbes in the Ministry for the Economy. It is, perhaps, the area where the Government faces its greatest challenges, given the worldwide economic climate, and we can only hope that the two men can work effectively together.

Some are surprised at the departure of Jesús Caldera, but the ex Minister for Employment is now to be gainfully employed directing a new Socialist think tank, given the task of renovating progressive thinking.

Plenty of good intentions then, but it remains to be seen whether the new team proves to be an efficient one when it comes to governing the country. The Prime Minister has indicated that he thinks the financial crisis will be with us for two years, half the legislature which will also be separated by Spain taking over the rotating presidency of the European Union in 2010.
It was interesting also to see Zapatero more than happy to lose the first round of voting at his investiture. Last time round pacts were made for support from the nationalist parties, which brought repeated criticism from the opposition that the Government’s policies were mortgaged to some of the regions. By going it alone the Prime Minister is attempting to show his authority.

Across the political divide the Partido Popular seems to be undecided on how to deal with the head of the Madrid regional government, Esperanza Aguirre. An obviously ambitious woman, she has called for a debate on the loss of the election and has left the door open to her challenging Mariano Rajoy as leader of the party at their party conference in Valencia in June. Whether she makes a challenge or not will mark the form of the opposition this legislature, but after two election defeats surely it is perfectly understandable for the opposition to question its leader.

Spain is different in that both Felipe González and José María Aznar finally came to power on the third time of trying, and it is this fact, together with an increase in the PP vote, that Mariano Rajoy is hanging on to in justification of his remaining as leader. One wonders if the Partido Popular has a right wing Zapatero waiting in the wings, but until the party handles its own affairs in a more democratic way, said person, if he or she exists may go unnoticed – unless of course his name is Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

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