“What is beginning is a legislature with a high political profile, and we must have a team up to the task, with a high political profile,” highlighted Pedro Sánchez of the members of the new Government, who today will take office and tomorrow will meet in the first Council of Ministers of the mandate, before the head of the Executive embarks on a whirlwind trip to Israel and Palestine on Thursday.
Sánchez thus provides political muscle to the new Government, with the promotions of Félix Bolaños – who adds the Justice portfolio to that of the Presidency – and María Jesús Montero – fourth vice president and once again responsible for the Treasury –, to face a legislature of very high voltage, in the face of the all-out offensive deployed by the right and some essential parliamentary support but difficult to cohesive, such as Junts and ERC, PNV and EH Bildu, and the unresolved internal struggle between Sumar and Podemos.
“The country’s project, based on social progress, coexistence, institutional stability and dialogue between different people, is perfectly defined and we are determined to achieve it,” said Sánchez when announcing his new Government in an appearance at the Moncloa, after previously reporting to King Felipe VI.
This Executive, the president stressed, “will prioritize dialogue and negotiation in a legislature that will be key for the social and territorial cohesion of Spain.” The chosen profiles, he assured, will offer “an integrative approach to the different levels of the Administration and the territorial diversity of our country.” “A decisive factor, which will be decisive in this legislature, marked by dialogue as a method and necessary condition to forge agreements,” argued Sánchez.
Bolaños, Sánchez’s chief negotiator and man for everything, assumes the Justice portfolio with the proposed amnesty law for those accused of the process already registered in Congress, and with the eternal pending task of renewing a General Council of the Judiciary that accumulates five years with the mandate expired.
For her part, Montero, from Seville, has as a priority the approval of next year’s general state budget, which is essential to provide stability for the start of the mandate. And also fulfill one of the great agreements that allowed Sánchez’s investiture: the removal of debt from the autonomies. Now vice president, Montero – also vice general secretary of the PSOE – is at the hierarchical summit of the Government, behind the president and the three vice presidents who revalidate their positions: Nadia Calviño (Economy), Yolanda Díaz (Labor) and Teresa Ribera (Ecological Transition). ).
Among the signings that join the Executive, the recovery for the politics of the former mayor of Barcelona Jordi Hereu stands out, who assumes the Industry portfolio, capital in the management of the recovery funds. Until now president of Hispasat, Hereu takes the reins of a ministry with tradition in the PSC, since during the mandates of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero the heads of Industry were José Montilla, later president of the Generalitat, and Joan Clos, who was also mayor of Barcelona. Salvador Illa’s PSC will only have one member in the Executive – until now it had two: Miquel Iceta and Raquel Sànchez – but in a key position.
The new Government spokesperson is Pilar Alegría, who remains in charge of Education and adds the Sports competition. And Óscar Puente, former mayor of Valladolid, joins the Executive as head of Transportation. The combative Puente, who was spokesperson for the Ferraz executive and regained prominence when Sánchez commissioned him to respond to the PP leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, in his failed investiture debate, will follow in the footsteps of other PSOE heavyweights, such as José Blanco or José Luis Ábalos, at the head of the main investment ministry.
In addition, Puente’s until now right-hand woman in Valladolid, Ana Redondo, will be the head of Equality. The PSOE thus recovers this portfolio of great symbolism, despite the resistance of Podemos, a formation that is finally left out of the Council of Ministers.
The minority partner of the coalition, Sumar, nevertheless obtains five ministries. Yolanda Díaz maintains Work, and Mónica García (Health), Ernest Urtasun (Culture), Sira Rego (Childhood and Youth) and Pablo Bustinduy (Social Rights) join.
The socialist Isabel Rodríguez, until now spokesperson for the government and Minister of Territorial Policy, is in charge of Housing. And the former Canary Islands president Ángel Víctor Torres is chosen to direct Territorial Policy.
Continuity is evident in the so-called ministries of State, as José Manuel Albares (Foreign Affairs), Margarita Robles (Defense) and Fernando Grande-Marlaska (Interior) remain in their positions. The veteran Luis Planas repeats in Agriculture, José Luis Escrivá moves to the new Digital Transformation department, and transfers the Social Security powers to Elma Saiz, until now Minister of Economy and Finance in Navarra, and the Valencian Diana Morant adds Universities to the portfolio of Science.
“A solvent and solid Government, to offer security,” Sánchez summarized. “We have more desire, determination and enthusiasm than ever,” the president promised.
