Spain: PM names new cabinet

By Alyssa McMurtry

MADRID

Recently re-elected Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has opted for some important changes in his new cabinet, which he announced on Thursday evening.

Jose García-Margallo, 72, Spain’s former foreign affairs minister, has been ousted from Rajoy’s cabinet.

In total, there are six new faces in Rajoy’s 13-member cabinet, which will be younger and more balanced genderwise than the previous one. Five of the ministers are women, including Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria.

Saenz was the previous deputy prime minister but Rajoy expanded her powers: she will now be in charge of dealing with the separatist challenge in Catalonia.

The prime minister also expanded the roles of Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, who will have to negotiate Spain’s budget with the European Union.

After more than 10 months of political stalemate and two national elections, Rajoy was voted to lead the Spanish government by the Spanish parliament on Saturday.

By Alyssa McMurtry

MADRID

Recently re-elected Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has opted for some important changes in his new cabinet, which he announced on Thursday evening.

Jose García-Margallo, 72, Spain’s former foreign affairs minister, has been ousted from Rajoy’s cabinet.

Saenz was the previous deputy prime minister but Rajoy expanded her powers: she will now be in charge of dealing with the separatist challenge in Catalonia.

The prime minister also expanded the roles of Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, who will have to negotiate Spain’s budget with the European Union.

After more than 10 months of political stalemate and two national elections, Rajoy was voted to lead the Spanish government by the Spanish parliament on Saturday.