News, January and February 2012

New cabinet announced

21st December. Just a month after the general election new premier Mariano Rajoy has passed the test of parliamentary approval as premier and has announced his new cabinet. The key members are vice-president Soraya Santa María, José Manuel García Margallo as foreign minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz as Interior minister and Cristóbal Montoro as Treasury minister. The team also includes Justice: Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón; Defence: Pedro Morenés, Fomento (infrastructure): Ana Pastor; Education, Culture and Sport: José Ignacio Wert; Employment and Social Security: Fátima Báñez; Energy and Tourism: José Manuel Soria; Agriculture, Food and Environment: Miguel Ángel Arias Cañete; Economy and Competitition: Luis de Guindos (last Iberian president of Lehman Brothers); Health, Social Services and Equality: Ana Mato. More from the BBC. More about Rajoy: The Economist.