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 30 August 2008 15:55 BST

Second-term Zapatero backs women in Spain's Cabinet

Saturday, 12 Apr 2008 18:13
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero unveils his new Cabinet
Spain's prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has named a Cabinet featuring more women than men at the start of his second term in power.

There are nine women in the new Cabinet and eight men, meaning – with Mr Zapatero himself as chairman – complete equality at ministerial level, a first for Spain.

After a ceremony today in which he was sworn in by Spanish King Juan Carlos, Mr Zapatero expressed his pride at having established a majority of cabinet members who are women.

And he was especially pleased by his selection of Carme Chancon, who becomes Spain's first female defence minister.

Other posts include 31-year-old Bibiana Aido in the equality post and Cristina Garmendia, whose newly created science and innovation post is tasked with Spain's flagging economic prospects.

"We must continue to boost the economy and do it in a new way, less dependent on construction," the AFP quoted him as saying in a televised press conference announcing the changes.

Miguel Sebastian, formerly a chief economic adviser, is the new industry minister in another high-profile promotion, while Pedro Solbes returns as economy minister.

Mr Zapatero's Socialist party fell seven seats short of an absolute majority in Spain's lower house in parliamentary elections on March 9th.

But that proved enough to see of the challenge of Mariano Rajoy's right-wing Popular party (PP), whom the socialists had unexpectedly beaten to power in 2005 in the immediate aftermath of that year's Madrid bombings.End of story


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