# First government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

The first government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was formed on 18 April 2004, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 16 April and his swearing-in on 17 April, as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 2004 Spanish general election. It succeeded the second Aznar government and was the Government of Spain from 18 April 2004 to 14 April 2008, a total of 1,457 days, or 3 years, 11 months and 27 days.
The cabinet comprised members of the PSOE (including its sister party, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia, PSC) and a number of independents. It was automatically dismissed on 10 March 2008 as a consequence of the 2008 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.

## Investiture

Investiture José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 16 April 2004 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 Y |
| | Yes • PSOE (164) • ERC (8) • IU–ICV (5) • CC (3) • BNG (2) • CHA (1) | 183 / 350 |
| | No • PP (148) | 148 / 350 |
| | Abstentions • CiU (10) • PNV (7) • EA (1) • NaBai (1) | 19 / 350 |
| | Absentees | 0 / 350 |
| Sources |||

## Cabinet changes

Zapatero's first government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:
* On 7 April 2006, José Bono's stepping down as Minister of Defence out of personal motives, a decision which had been taken throughout the months prior, led to the first cabinet reshuffle of Zapatero's premiership. José Antonio Alonso replaced Bono in Defence, and in turn he was replaced by Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba as Minister of the Interior. María Jesús San Segundo was replaced by Mercedes Cabrera as Minister of Education and Science. The new ministers were sworn into office on 11 April.
* On 8 September 2006, José Montilla stepped down as Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade in order to run as the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC)'s candidate for President of the Government of Catalonia in the 2006 Catalan regional election. He was succeeded by Mayor of Barcelona Joan Clos.
* On 12 February 2007, Mariano Fernández Bermejo replaced Juan Fernando López Aguilar as Minister of Justice, after the latter's decision to lead the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) into the 2007 Canarian regional election. López Aguilar had been nominated unopposed as the party's leading candidate for President of the Canary Islands on 28 October 2006, after several months of speculation.
* On 9 July 2007, a second major cabinet reshuffle saw Bernat Soria replacing Elena Salgado as Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs, who in turn replaced Jordi Sevilla in the Public Administrations ministry. María Antonia Trujillo was replaced by Carme Chacón as Minister of Housing, and César Antonio Molina became the new officeholder of the Culture portfolio replacing Carmen Calvo.

## Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the two deputy prime ministers, 16 ministries and the post of the spokesperson of the Government.
← Zapatero I Government → (18 April 2004 – 14 April 2008) :
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Prime Minister | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero | | PSOE | 17 April 2004 | 12 April 2008 | |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of the Presidency Spokesperson of the Government | Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega | | PSOE (Ind.) | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | [25] [26] [27] |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy and Finance | Pedro Solbes | | PSOE (Ind.) | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | [25] [28] |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation | Miguel Ángel Moratinos | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Justice | Juan Fernando López Aguilar | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 12 February 2007 | |
| Minister of Defence | José Bono | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | |
| Minister of the Interior | José Antonio Alonso | | PSOE (Ind.) | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | |
| Minister of Development | Magdalena Álvarez | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Education and Science | María Jesús San Segundo | | PSOE (Ind.) | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | Jesús Caldera | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade | José Montilla | | PSOE (PSC) | 18 April 2004 | 8 September 2006 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Elena Espinosa | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Public Administrations | Jordi Sevilla | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | |
| Minister of Culture | Carmen Calvo | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | |
| Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs | Elena Salgado | | PSOE (Ind.) | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | |
| Minister of Environment | Cristina Narbona | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Housing | María Antonia Trujillo | | PSOE | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | |
| Changes April 2006 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Defence | José Antonio Alonso | | PSOE (Ind.) | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of the Interior | Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba | | PSOE | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Education and Science | Mercedes Cabrera | | PSOE (Ind.) | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Changes September 2006 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade | Joan Clos | | PSOE (PSC) | 8 September 2006 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Changes February 2007 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Justice | Mariano Fernández Bermejo | | PSOE (Ind.) | 12 February 2007 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Changes July 2007 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Public Administrations | Elena Salgado | | PSOE (Ind.) | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Culture | César Antonio Molina | | PSOE (Ind.) | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs | Bernat Soria | | PSOE (Ind.) | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | |
| Minister of Housing | Carme Chacón | | PSOE (PSC) | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | |

## Departmental structure

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's first 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 Luis Rodríguez Zapatero | 17 April 2004 | 12 April 2008 | PSOE | [39] [40] [41] [42] |
| [39] [40] [41] [42] |||||||
| First Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Primera del Gobierno) | Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno) | Pedro Solbes | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |||||||||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación) | Miguel Ángel Moratinos | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [44] [45] [46] |
| [43] [44] [45] [46] |||||||
| Ministry of Justice |||||||||
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | Juan Fernando López Aguilar | 18 April 2004 | 12 February 2007 | PSOE | [43] [47] |
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | Mariano Fernández Bermejo | 12 February 2007 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [47] |
| [43] [47] |||||||
| Ministry of Defence |||||||||
| Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa) | José Bono | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | PSOE | [43] [48] [49] |
| Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa) | José Antonio Alonso | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [48] [49] |
| [43] [48] [49] |||||||
| Ministry of Economy and Finance |||||||||
| Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda) | Pedro Solbes | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [50] [51] [52] [53] |
| [43] [50] [51] [52] [53] |||||||
| Ministry of the Interior |||||||||
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | José Antonio Alonso | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [54] [55] [56] |
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [54] [55] [56] |
| [43] [54] [55] [56] |||||||
| Ministry of Development |||||||||
| Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento) | Magdalena Álvarez | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [57] |
| [43] [57] |||||||
| Ministry of Education and Science |||||||||
| Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia) | María Jesús San Segundo | 18 April 2004 | 11 April 2006 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [58] [59] [60] [61] |
| Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia) | Mercedes Cabrera | 11 April 2006 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [58] [59] [60] [61] |
| [43] [58] [59] [60] [61] |||||||
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales) | Jesús Caldera | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [62] [63] |
| [43] [62] [63] |||||||
| Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade |||||||||
| Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio) | José Montilla | 18 April 2004 | 8 September 2006 | PSOE (PSC–PSOE) | [43] [64] |
| Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio) | Joan Clos | 8 September 2006 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (PSC–PSOE) | [43] [64] |
| [43] [64] |||||||
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |||||||||
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) | Elena Espinosa | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [65] |
| [43] [65] |||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency |||||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [66] [67] |
| [43] [66] [67] |||||||
| Ministry of Public Administrations |||||||||
| Ministry of Public Administrations (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas) | Jordi Sevilla | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | PSOE | [43] [68] [69] [70] |
| Ministry of Public Administrations (Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas) | Elena Salgado | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [68] [69] [70] |
| [43] [68] [69] [70] |||||||
| Ministry of Culture |||||||||
| Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura) | Carmen Calvo | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | PSOE | [43] [71] |
| Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura) | César Antonio Molina | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [71] |
| [43] [71] |||||||
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo) | Elena Salgado | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [72] |
| Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo) | Bernat Soria | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | [43] [72] |
| [43] [72] |||||||
| Ministry of Environment |||||||||
| Ministry of Environment (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente) | Cristina Narbona | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE | [43] [73] [74] [75] |
| [43] [73] [74] [75] |||||||
| Ministry of Housing |||||||||
| Ministry of Housing (Ministerio de Vivienda) | María Antonia Trujillo | 18 April 2004 | 9 July 2007 | PSOE | [43] [76] |
| Ministry of Housing (Ministerio de Vivienda) | Carme Chacón | 9 July 2007 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (PSC–PSOE) | [43] [76] |
| [43] [76] |||||||
| Spokesperson of the Government |||||||||
| Spokesperson of the Government (Portavoz del Gobierno) | Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega | 18 April 2004 | 14 April 2008 | PSOE (Independent) | |