The Government

Spain is a constitutional monarchy and democracy, integrated in the European Union.

The Head of State is king Juan Carlos Borbón y Borbón

His heir is prince Felipe Borbón y Grecia, married to Leticia Ortiz Rocasoles on May 22nd 2004. As of October 2007 they have two daughters, Leonor and Sofia.

The current President of the Council of Ministers is José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, born in Valladolid in 1960.

Principal ministers and members of the cabinet after the most recent election (9th March 2008).

María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, 1st Vice president and Minister for the president's office, born 1949 in Valencia
Pedro Solbes, 2nd vice-president and minister for the Economy, born 1942 in Alicante, previously EU Economy Commissioner
Miguel Angel Moratinos, Foreign minister, previously special EU ambassador in the Near East
Mariano Fernández Bermejo, minister of Justice (and responsible for relations with the religious groups -other than the Catholic Church which relates via the Foreign Minister)
Carme Chacón Piqueras, Defence Minister
Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, Interior 'Security' minister
Celestino Corbacho, Minister for Labour and Social Affairs
Miquel Sebastián, minister for Industry, Commerce, tourism, science and technology, born 1955 in Córdoba
Magdalena Alvarez, Infrastructure minister
Mercedes Cabrera Calvo-Sotelo, Education, Social and Family Affairs, minister
Cesar Antonio Molina Sanchez, Culture minister
Elena Salgado Mendez, Public Administration minister (relating to regional and local government as well as coordination between ministries)
Beatriz Corredor, Housing minister
Elena Espinosa Mangana, Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment
Bernat Soria Escoms, Health minister
Cristina Narbona, Environment
Bibiana Aído, Equal Opportunities
Cristina Garmendia, Innovation Minister

José Antonio Alonso

More information and updates can be had directly from the government web site.

General Secretary of the Partido Popular and leader of the opposition continues to be Mariano Rajoy, born in Galicia; party web (Spanish).

The Speaker of the Congress is José Bono, former regional President of Castilla-La-Mancha and Defence Minister.