The reshuffle of the Executive carried out yesterday by Pedro Sánchez to resolve the departure of Nadia Calviño to the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB) contributes to “reinforcing the high political profile and proven technical solvency of the progressive coalition Government” .
This was highlighted by the head of the Executive himself during the appearance that he took part in in the early hours of the morning at the Palau de la Moncloa to announce appointments previously announced by the Head of State, Felipe VI.
More political weight and more technical profile, therefore, to face the turbulence of an uncertain legislature, on the political and economic level, since this first government crisis of the new mandate of Sánchez, forced by the departure of Calviño, involves the the promotion of María Jesús Montero to the first vice-presidency of the Executive, the incorporation of Carlos Cuerpo as the new Minister of Economy and the transfer of the competence of Public Service to the portfolio headed by José Luis Escrivá to deploy a deep reform of the public administration.
After Sánchez’s announcement, the protagonists of the remodeling promised the new positions in front of the King at the Zarzuela palace. And with the appointments already published in the digital edition of the Official State Gazette, they immediately took possession of their respective portfolios.
Sánchez emphasized that the same qualities that Calviño has, solvency and honesty, are what determined the election of Carlos Cuerpo (Badajoz, 1980) as the new Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. The general secretary of the Treasury until now was, precisely, the person proposed by Calviño herself for the relief, which guarantees the continuity of her policies. And the alignment with the economic orthodoxy of Brussels.
“Solvency and honesty are the traits that define Carlos Cuerpo’s career”, stressed the head of the Executive. “A young professional, but with proven competence, and a public servant with an exemplary career within the Administration”, he emphasized.
Cuerpo will direct the economic policy of the Spanish Government and preside over its powerful Economic Affairs Delegation, which until now was led by Calviño with an iron fist. Sánchez emphasized that he assumes responsibility for a key portfolio “an economist of enormous prestige both nationally and in European institutions and multilateral financial bodies”.
“His predecessor set the bar very high, but I am convinced that Carlos Cuerpo will give continuity and depth, in a brilliant way, to the exceptional work done by Nadia Calviño”, he emphasized.
Sánchez also promoted the Minister of Finance and until now fourth vice-president, María Jesús Montero (Seville, 1966), to the first vice-presidency of his Government. With the endorsement of three consecutive general State budgets approved in the previous legislature, “within the deadline and in the appropriate form”, Montero adds the new institutional stripes as number two of the Executive to the organic position of Deputy Secretary General of the PSOE.
The highest hierarchical level in the central government, just below Sánchez on the ladder, is once again made up of three vice presidents. Montero, the first; the second is the Minister of Labor and leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, and the third is Teresa Ribera, Minister for Ecological Transition. The remodeling involves the abolition of the fourth vice-presidency.
Sánchez pointed out that it is not even necessary to mention Montero’s background in all the responsibilities exercised so far alongside him. “But I don’t want to fail to emphasize that our economic successes, as well as the strengthening of the welfare state compatible with the fiscal consolidation policies carried out by this Government, would not have been possible without the intense and also brilliant work of Montero” , highlighted the president who has accompanied him as head of the Treasury since he arrived in Moncloa in June 2018.
Finally, the Secretariat of State for Public Service, until now assigned to the Treasury, is being transferred to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, headed by José Luis Escrivá. The objective, justified Sánchez, is to “reinforce the commitment to a modern, more agile and efficient Administration, which takes advantage of all the opportunities of digitization and artificial intelligence to improve the quality of public services”.
