The Spanish Prime Minister, the Socialist Pedro Sachéz, moved his government on Tuesday (30) after the announcement of the surprise departure of Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the radical left party Pode, one of its deputies. He will be replaced by Yolanda Díaz, which means that the government is made up of four female vice-presidents.
“Spain has become the sixth country in the world with the highest proportion of women in government” and the fourth in the European Union (EU), Sánchez told reporters at the Moncloa Palace. He recalled that his team, until then completely egalitarian, now has 12 women and 10 men.
Yolanda Díaz, Minister of Labor, becomes 3rd Vice-President and Ione Belarra, Secretary of State for Agenda 2030, becomes Minister of Social Rights. Nadia Calviño, Minister of the Economy, is promoted to 2nd Vice-President. Carmen Calvo and Teresa Ribera remain first and fourth vice-presidents respectively.
The alliance between the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Pode has been marked by tensions in recent weeks. But, from the point of view of the political council, Sánchez promised that the government agreement remains “intact”. The radical left maintains five portfolios (labor, equality, social rights, universities and consumption), against 17 for the PSOE.
Pablo Iglesias, who attended his last Council of Ministers on Tuesday, posted a message on social media in which he said he will now “continue to work where I think I can be of most use”.
This ministerial reform is the second of the coalition government. In January and in the midst of the third wave of the pandemic, Health Minister Salvador Illa stepped down from the executive to run in Catalan regional elections next month. He was replaced by the current minister, Carolina Darias.