José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

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José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Prime Minister of Spain
In office

16 April 2004 – 21 December 2011

Monarch Juan Carlos I
Deputy María Teresa Fernández de la Vega

Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Elena Salgado

Preceded by José María Aznar
Succeeded by Mariano Rajoy
Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
In office

22 July 2000 – 4 February 2012

President Manuel Chaves
Preceded by Joaquín Almunia
Succeeded Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba
Leader of the Opposition
In office

22 July 2000 – 16 April 2004

Prime Minister José María Aznar
Preceded by Luis Martínez Noval
Succeeded by Mariano Rajoy
Personal details
Born 4 August 1960 (age 54)

Spain

Political party Socialist Workers' Party
Spouse(s) Sonsoles Espinosa(1990–present)
Children Laura

Alba

Alma mater University of León
Religion Agnosticism

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was born in Valladolid, Castilla y León, on August 4th, 1960. He is the former Prime Minister of Spain, serving two times, the first in 2004 and the second term in 2008.

Political Career

During the year 1979, he joined the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). In 1982, he became the leader of the socialist youth organization in the province of León. Zapatero was elected to the national parliament and became the youngest member during 1986. Two years after, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the León provincial federation of the (PSOE). Zapatero was able to maintain his seat in the Congress of Deputies after General Election in 1996. From 2000 to 2012, he ran for leadership of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and was elected Secretary General. He was elected as Prime Minister of Spain in 2004. Zapatero’s Socialist Party won the general elections, having more seats (164) in the Cortes than the People’s Party with only (148). During his time as Prime Minister: he withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, legalized same-sex marriage (2005), criminalization of domestic violence, reformed the education system, increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan. Zapatero was re-elected as Prime Minister of Spain, serving from 2008 to 2011.

Education

Jose Zapatero graduated with a degree in Law from the University of León in 1982. He then worked as a member of the faculty of the University after graduating from 1982 to 1986.


Further Information

International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy & Religion, "The Promotion of World Peace through Inter-Faith Dialogue & the Unity of Faiths", Center for Cultural Diplomacy - Publications, Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, Rome, Italy, March 31st - April 3rd 2014

External Links

Barcelona Center for International Affairs

Britannica page


Party political offices
Preceded by Joaquín Almunia Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party

2000–2012

Succeeded by

Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba

Political offices
Preceded by Joaquín Almunia Leader of the Opposition

2000–2004

Succeeded by

Mariano Rajoy

Preceded by José María Aznar Prime Minister of Spain

2004–2011

Photo Gallery

Hon. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero during the Madrid Symposium on Peace Building & Conflict Resolution "The Promotion of World Peace through Inter-Faith Dialogue & Global Political Discourse" organized by the ICD in Madrid, Spain (July 15th - 17th, 2014)
Hon. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero together with Mark Donfried, Director and Founder of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin (ICD), during the Madrid Symposium on Peace Building & Conflict Resolution "The Promotion of World Peace through Inter-Faith Dialogue & Global Political Discourse" organized by the ICD in Madrid, Spain (July 15th - 17th, 2014)