# Second government of José María Aznar

The second government of José María Aznar was formed on 28 April 2000, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 26 April and his swearing-in on 27 April, as a result of the People's Party (PP) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 2000 Spanish general election. It succeeded the first Aznar government and was the Government of Spain from 28 April 2000 to 18 April 2004, a total of 1,451 days, or 3 years, 11 months and 21 days.
The cabinet comprised members of the PP and a number of independents. It was automatically dismissed on 15 March 2004 as a consequence of the 2004 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.

## Investiture

Investiture José María Aznar (PP) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 26 April 2000 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 Y |
| | Yes • PP (183) • CiU (15) • CC (4) | 202 / 350 |
| | No • PSOE (125) • IU (8) • PNV (7) • BNG (3) • PA (1) • ERC (1) • ICV (1) • EA (1) • CHA (1) | 148 / 350 |
| | Abstentions | 0 / 350 |
| | Absentees | 0 / 350 |
| Sources |||

## Cabinet changes

Aznar's second government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:
* On 28 February 2001, Jaime Mayor Oreja stepped down as Minister of the Interior in order to run as the People's Party (PP)'s leading candidate for Lehendakari in the 2001 Basque regional election. He was succeeded in his office by Mariano Rajoy, who in turn was replaced in the Presidency ministry by Juan José Lucas.
* On 10 July 2002, a major cabinet reshuffle saw Ana de Palacio replacing Josep Piqué as Minister of Foreign Affairs, who in turn replaced Anna Birulés as Minister of Science and Technology. Rajoy was reassigned the Ministry of the Presidency as well as the functions of Spokesperson of the Government, with Ángel Acebes being appointed for the Interior portfolio. José María Michavila filled the vacancy left by Acebes in the Ministry of Justice, whereas President of the Valencian Government Eduardo Zaplana replaced Juan Carlos Aparicio as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Javier Arenas replaced Jesús Posada as Minister of Public Administrations and Ana Pastor replaced Celia Villalobos in Health and Consumer Affairs. Aznar attempted to draw Convergence and Union (CiU) into a coalition government, with little success.
* On 3 March 2003, Elvira Rodríguez replaced Jaume Matas as Minister of Environment, who stepped down in order to run as the PP leading candidate for President of the Balearic Islands in the 2003 Balearic regional election.
* On 4 September 2003, Josep Piqué and Mariano Rajoy were dismissed from the government as a result of being nominated as the PP leading candidates for the 2003 Catalan regional and 2004 Spanish general elections, respectively. This prompted a new reshuffle which saw Rodrigo Rato being promoted to First Deputy Prime Minister, Arenas becoming new Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidency, Zaplana being assigned the functions of Spokesperson of the Government, Julia García-Valdecasas becoming new Minister of Public Administrations and Juan Costa filling Piqué's vacancy in the Science and Technology ministry.

## Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the two deputy prime minister, 15 ministries and the post of the spokesperson of the Government. Until July 2002, the latter's officeholder had the rank of minister without portfolio and an office of its own.
← Aznar II Government → (28 April 2000 – 18 April 2004) :
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Prime Minister | José María Aznar | | PP | 27 April 2000 | 17 April 2004 | |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of the Presidency | Mariano Rajoy | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 28 February 2001 | [23] [24] |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Minister of Economy | Rodrigo Rato | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 4 September 2003 | [23] [25] |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Josep Piqué | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of Justice | Ángel Acebes | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of Defence | Federico Trillo | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Finance | Cristóbal Montoro | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of the Interior | Jaime Mayor Oreja | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 28 February 2001 | |
| Minister of Development | Francisco Álvarez-Cascos | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Education, Culture and Sports | Pilar del Castillo | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | Juan Carlos Aparicio | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Miguel Arias Cañete | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Public Administrations | Jesús Posada | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs | Celia Villalobos | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of Environment | Jaume Matas | | PP | 28 April 2000 | 3 March 2003 | |
| Minister of Science and Technology | Anna Birulés | | PP (Ind.) | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Spokesperson Minister of the Government, without portfolio | Pío Cabanillas Alonso | | PP (Ind.) | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Changes February 2001 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of the Interior | Mariano Rajoy | | PP | 28 February 2001 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Minister of the Presidency | Juan José Lucas | | PP | 28 February 2001 | 10 July 2002 | |
| Changes July 2002 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of the Presidency Spokesperson of the Government | Mariano Rajoy | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | [28] [29] |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Ana Palacio | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Justice | José María Michavila | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of the Interior | Ángel Acebes | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | Eduardo Zaplana | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | |
| Minister of Public Administrations | Javier Arenas | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | |
| Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs | Ana Pastor | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Science and Technology | Josep Piqué | | PP | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | |
| Changes March 2003 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Environment | Elvira Rodríguez | | PP | 3 March 2003 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Changes September 2003 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy | Rodrigo Rato | | PP | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister Minister of the Presidency | Javier Arenas | | PP | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | [39] [40] |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Spokesperson of the Government | Eduardo Zaplana | | PP | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Public Administrations | Julia García-Valdecasas | | PP | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | |
| Minister of Science and Technology | Juan Costa | | PP | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | |

## Departmental structure

José María Aznar's second government was organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure varied depending on the ministerial department.

### Unit/body rank

* (■) Secretary of state
* (■) Undersecretary
* (■) Director-general
* (●) Autonomous agency
* (◆) Military & intelligence agency
| Office (Original name) | Name | Took office | Left office | Alliance/party | Ref. |
| Prime Minister's Office |||||||||
| Prime Minister (Presidencia del Gobierno) | José María Aznar | 26 April 2000 | 17 April 2004 | PP | [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] |
| [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] |||||||
| First Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Primera del Gobierno) | Mariano Rajoy | 28 April 2000 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [20] [21] |
| First Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Primera del Gobierno) | Rodrigo Rato | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [20] [21] |
| [20] [21] |||||||
| Second Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno para Asuntos Económicos) (until 4 September 2003) Second Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno) (from 4 September 2003) | Rodrigo Rato | 28 April 2000 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [20] [21] |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno para Asuntos Económicos) (until 4 September 2003) Second Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno) (from 4 September 2003) | Javier Arenas | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [20] [21] |
| [20] [21] |||||||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores) | Josep Piqué | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores) | Ana Palacio | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] |
| [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] |||||||
| Ministry of Justice |||||||||
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | Ángel Acebes | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [56] [57] [58] |
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | José María Michavila | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [56] [57] [58] |
| [56] [57] [58] |||||||
| Ministry of Defence |||||||||
| Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa) | Federico Trillo | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [59] [60] [61] [62] |
| [59] [60] [61] [62] |||||||
| Ministry of Finance |||||||||
| Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda) | Cristóbal Montoro | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [51] [63] [64] [65] [66] |
| [51] [63] [64] [65] [66] |||||||
| Ministry of the Interior |||||||||
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | Jaime Mayor Oreja | 28 April 2000 | 28 February 2001 | PP | [51] [67] [68] [69] |
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | Mariano Rajoy | 28 February 2001 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [51] [67] [68] [69] |
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | Ángel Acebes | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [51] [67] [68] [69] |
| [51] [67] [68] [69] |||||||
| Ministry of Development |||||||||
| Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento) | Francisco Álvarez-Cascos | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [51] [70] [71] |
| [51] [70] [71] |||||||
| Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports |||||||||
| Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) | Pilar del Castillo | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [63] [72] [73] [74] |
| [63] [72] [73] [74] |||||||
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales) | Juan Carlos Aparicio | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [75] [76] [77] [78] |
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales) | Eduardo Zaplana | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [75] [76] [77] [78] |
| [75] [76] [77] [78] |||||||
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |||||||||
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) | Miguel Arias Cañete | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [79] [80] [81] |
| [79] [80] [81] |||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency |||||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | Mariano Rajoy | 28 April 2000 | 28 February 2001 | PP | [82] [83] [84] [85] |
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | Juan José Lucas | 28 February 2001 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [82] [83] [84] [85] |
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | Mariano Rajoy | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [82] [83] [84] [85] |
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | Javier Arenas | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [82] [83] [84] [85] |
| [82] [83] [84] [85] |||||||
| Ministry of Public Administrations |||||||||
| Ministry of Public Administrations (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas) | Jesús Posada | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [86] [87] |
| Ministry of Public Administrations (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas) | Javier Arenas | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [86] [87] |
| Ministry of Public Administrations (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas) | Julia García-Valdecasas | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [86] [87] |
| [86] [87] |||||||
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo) | Celia Villalobos | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP | [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] |
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo) | Ana Pastor | 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] |
| [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] |||||||
| Ministry of Environment |||||||||
| Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente) | Jaume Matas | 28 April 2000 | 3 March 2003 | PP | [94] [95] |
| Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente) | Elvira Rodríguez | 3 March 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [94] [95] |
| [94] [95] |||||||
| Ministry of Economy |||||||||
| Ministry of Economy (Ministerio de Economía) | Rodrigo Rato | 28 April 2000 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [51] [63] [64] [96] [97] [98] [99] |
| [51] [63] [64] [96] [97] [98] [99] |||||||
| Ministry of Science and Technology |||||||||
| Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología) | Anna Birulés | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP (Independent) | [63] [100] [101] |
| Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología) | Josep Piqué | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [63] [100] [101] |
| Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología) | Juan Costa | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [63] [100] [101] |
| [63] [100] [101] |||||||
| Spokesperson of the Government |||||||||
| Spokesperson Minister of the Government, without portfolio (Ministro Portavoz del Gobierno, sin cartera) (until 10 July 2002) Spokesperson of the Government (Portavoz del Gobierno) (from 10 July 2002) | Pío Cabanillas Alonso | 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | PP (Independent) | [23] [28] [41] [84] [102] [103] |
| Spokesperson Minister of the Government, without portfolio (Ministro Portavoz del Gobierno, sin cartera) (until 10 July 2002) Spokesperson of the Government (Portavoz del Gobierno) (from 10 July 2002) | Mariano Rajoy | 10 July 2002 | 4 September 2003 | PP | [23] [28] [41] [84] [102] [103] |
| Spokesperson Minister of the Government, without portfolio (Ministro Portavoz del Gobierno, sin cartera) (until 10 July 2002) Spokesperson of the Government (Portavoz del Gobierno) (from 10 July 2002) | Eduardo Zaplana | 4 September 2003 | 18 April 2004 | PP | [23] [28] [41] [84] [102] [103] |
| [23] [28] [41] [84] [102] [103] |||||||