Pedro Solbes

**Pedro Solbes Mira** (born August 31, 1942) is a Spanish politician and economist. He worked a lot with money and the economy, both in Spain and in the European Union.

## Biography

Pedro Solbes was born in Villena, Alicante, Spain. He studied economics at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he graduated. Later, he continued studying economics and finance at other schools in Spain and abroad.

Solbes started working for the Spanish government. In 1973, he began to work in the Ministry of Agriculture. Later, he worked in the Ministry of Economy.

From 1991 to 1993, Pedro Solbes was Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This means he was in charge of farming, fishing, and food policies in Spain. From 1993 to 1996, he was Spain’s Minister of Economy and Finance during the government of Felipe González. He helped control the country’s money and budget during a difficult time. Then, from 1999 to 2004, Solbes was the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs. This job is very important because he helped make decisions about money and the economy for many European countries. He worked with things like the euro currency and the rules for the European Union’s money policies.

In 2004, Pedro Solbes came back to Spain to work again as Minister of Economy and Finance under Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. He stayed in this job until 2009.

During this time, Spain grew economically, but later there were big problems because of the global financial crisis in 2008. Solbes had to face these challenges while trying to protect Spain’s economy.

After 2009, Solbes left the government. He has worked as a writer, teacher, and speaker about economics. Many people respect him because he understands the economy well and has experience in both Spain and Europe.

## Personal life

Pedro Solbes is married and has children. He is known as a calm and serious person who works hard.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Pedro Solbes Mira
- **image**: Pedro Solbes IMF.jpg
- **office**: Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
- **primeminister**: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
- **term start**: 18 April 2004
- **term end**: 7 April 2009
- **predecessor**: Javier Arenas (Spanish politician), Javier Arenas
- **successor**: Elena Salgado
- **office1**: Ministry of Economy and Finance (Spain), Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain
- **primeminister1**: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
- **term start1**: 18 April 2004
- **term end1**: 7 April 2009
- **predecessor1**: Rodrigo Rato
- **successor1**: Elena Salgado
- **primeminister2**: Felipe González
- **term start2**: 13 July 1993
- **term end2**: 5 May 1996
- **predecessor2**: Carlos Solchaga Catalan, Carlos Solchaga
- **successor2**: Rodrigo Rato
- **office3**: European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs
- **term start3**: 16 September 1999
- **term end3**: 10 April 2004
- **predecessor3**: Leon Brittan
- **successor3**: Joaquín Almunia
- **birth name**: Pedro Solbes Mira
- **birth place**: Pinoso (Province of Alicante, Alicante), Francoist Spain, Spain
- **death place**: Madrid, Spain
- **party**: Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
- **spouse**: Pilar Castro
- **alma mater**: Complutense University of Madrid
- **profession**: Economist
- **caption**: Solbes in 2004