The second government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was formed on 14 April 2008, following the latter's election as prime minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 11 April and his swearing-in on 12 April, as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 2008 Spanish general election. It succeeded the first Zapatero government and was the government of Spain from 14 April 2008 to 22 December 2011, a total of days, or .
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 21 November 2011 as a consequence of the 2011 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.
Investiture
InvestitureCongress of Deputies Ballot → 9 April 2008 11 April 2008 Required majority → 176 out of 350 Simple Sources
Cabinet changes Zapatero's second government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure: On 23 February 2009, Mariano Fernández Bermejo resigned as Minister of Justice after it transpired that he had participated in a hunting trip in Andalusia together with Judge Baltasar Garzón—at the time, responsible for the ongoing Gürtel affair investigations involving senior People's Party (PP) members. Bermejo came under fire from PP leaders, who accused him of interfering within the investigations. While he denied such claims, he submitted his resignation due to the growing political pressure on him. He was succeeded by Francisco Caamaño. On 7 April 2009, the cabinet saw an extensive reshuffle. Pedro Solbes stepped down as Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance and was replaced by Elena Salgado, who in turn stepped down as Minister of Public Administrations. President of Andalusia Manuel Chaves was appointed as Third Deputy Prime Minister and new Minister of Territorial Policy. José Blanco replaced Magdalena Álvarez as Minister of Development; Ángel Gabilondo replaced Mercedes Cabrera in Education; Ángeles González-Sinde replaced César Antonio Molina in Culture and Trinidad Jiménez replaced Bernat Soria as Minister of Health. On 21 October 2010, Celestino Corbacho stepped down as Minister of Labour and Immigration in order to run within the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC)'s list for the 2010 Catalan regional election, being replaced by Valeriano Gómez. Zapatero took this opportunity to undertake a major cabinet reshuffle which saw María Teresa Fernández de la Vega being replaced as First Deputy Prime Minister and Spokesperson of the Government by Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba—who retained his office as Minister of the Interior—and as Minister of the Presidency by Ramón Jáuregui. Trinidad Jiménez replaced Miguel Ángel Moratinos as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Rosa Aguilar replaced Elena Espinosa as Minister of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs and Leire Pajín was appointed to the Health ministry. The ministries of Housing and Equality were restructured into state secretariats within the Development and Health ministries, respectively. Finally, Chaves's Territorial Policy portfolio was restructured into the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Administration. On 12 July 2011, Rubalcaba stepped down from the government after having been nominated as the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)'s leading candidate for the 2011 general election. Subsequently, a final reshuffle took place, with changes limited to fill the vacancies: Antonio Camacho was appointed in Interior, José Blanco replaced Rubalcaba as the Government's spokesperson and the offices of the deputy prime ministers under Elena Salgado and Manuel Chaves were restructured.
Council of Ministers The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the two deputy prime ministers, 17 ministries and the post of the spokesperson of the Government. From April 2009, the Council would include a third deputy prime minister. The number of ministries was reduced to 15 after the ministries of Housing and Equality were merged into the Development and Health departments in October 2010. From July 2011, the Council would include only two deputy prime ministers.
← Zapatero II Government →(14 April 2008 – 22 December 2011) Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero PSOE 12 April 2008 21 December 2011 First Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of the PresidencySpokesperson of the Government Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega Independent 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Second Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Economy and Finance Pedro Solbes Independent 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Ángel Moratinos PSOE 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Minister of Justice Mariano Fernández Bermejo Independent 14 April 2008 23 February 2009 Minister of Defence Carme Chacón PSOE/PSC 14 April 2008 22 December 2011 Minister of the Interior Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba PSOE 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Minister of Development Magdalena Álvarez PSOE 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Education, Social Policy and Sports Mercedes Cabrera Independent 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Labour and Immigration Celestino Corbacho PSOE/PSC 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade Miguel Sebastián Independent 14 April 2008 22 December 2011 Minister of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs Elena Espinosa PSOE 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Minister of Public Administrations Elena Salgado Independent 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Culture César Antonio Molina Independent 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs Bernat Soria Independent 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 Minister of Housing Beatriz Corredor PSOE 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Minister of Science and Innovation Cristina Garmendia Independent 14 April 2008 22 December 2011 Minister of Equality Bibiana Aído PSOE 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 Changes February 2009 Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Minister of Justice Francisco Caamaño PSOE 24 February 2009 22 December 2011 Changes April 2009 Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Second Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Economy and Finance Elena Salgado Independent 7 April 2009 12 July 2011 Third Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Territorial Policy Manuel Chaves PSOE 7 April 2009 21 October 2010 Minister of Development José Blanco PSOE 7 April 2009 12 July 2011 Minister of Education Ángel Gabilondo Independent 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 Minister of Culture Ángeles González-Sinde Independent 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 Minister of Health and Social Policy Trinidad Jiménez PSOE 7 April 2009 21 October 2010 Changes October 2010 Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office First Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of the InteriorSpokesperson of the Government Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba PSOE 21 October 2010 12 July 2011 Third Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Territorial Policy and Public Administration Manuel Chaves PSOE 21 October 2010 12 July 2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Trinidad Jiménez PSOE 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 Minister of Labour and Immigration Valeriano Gómez PSOE 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 Minister of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs Rosa Aguilar Independent 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 Minister of the Presidency Ramón Jáuregui PSOE 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 Minister of Health, Social Policy and Equality Leire Pajín PSOE 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 Changes July 2011 Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Deputy Prime Minister for Economic AffairsMinister of Economy and Finance Elena Salgado Independent 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 Deputy Prime Minister for Territorial PolicyMinister of Territorial Policy and Public Administration Manuel Chaves PSOE 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 Minister of the Interior Antonio Camacho Independent 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 Minister of DevelopmentSpokesperson of the Government José Blanco PSOE 12 July 2011 22 December 2011
Departmental structure José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero'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 Portrait Name Took office Left office Alliance/party Prime Minister's Office Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero 12 April 2008 21 December 2011 PSOE First Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Ministerfor Economic Affairs Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 PSOE Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba 21 October 2010 12 July 2011 PSOE Elena Salgado 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 PSOE See Ministry of the Presidency (14 April 2008 – 21 October 2010)See Ministry of the Interior (21 October 2010 – 12 July 2011)See Ministry of Economy and Finance (12 July – 22 December 2011) Second Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Ministerfor Territorial Policy Pedro Solbes 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE Elena Salgado 7 April 2009 12 July 2011 PSOE Manuel Chaves 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 PSOE See Ministry of Economy and Finance (14 April 2008 – 12 July 2011)See Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Administration (12 July – 22 December 2011) Third Deputy Prime Minister Manuel Chaves 7 April 2009 12 July 2011 PSOE See Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public AdministrationMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairsand Cooperation Miguel Ángel Moratinos 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 PSOE Trinidad Jiménez 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Justice Ministry of Justice Mariano Fernández Bermejo 14 April 2008 23 February 2009 PSOE Francisco Caamaño 24 February 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Defence Ministry of Defence Carme Chacón 14 April 2008 22 December 2011 PSOE Ministry of Economy and Finance Ministry of Economy and Finance Pedro Solbes 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE Elena Salgado 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of the Interior Ministry of the Interior Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba 14 April 2008 12 July 2011 PSOE Antonio Camacho 12 July 2011 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Development Ministry of Development Magdalena Álvarez 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE José Blanco 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Education Ministry of Education,Social Policy and Sports
Ministry of Education Mercedes Cabrera 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE Ángel Gabilondo 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Labour and Immigration Ministry of Labour and Immigration Celestino Corbacho 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 PSOE Valeriano Gómez 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Industry, Tourism and Trade Ministry of Industry,Tourism and Trade Miguel Sebastián 14 April 2008 22 December 2011 PSOE Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs Ministry of Environment,and Rural and Marine Affairs Elena Espinosa 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 PSOE Rosa Aguilar 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of the Presidency Ministry of the Presidency Mª Teresa Fernández de la Vega 14 April 2008 21 October 2010 PSOE Ramón Jáuregui 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Territorial Policy and Public Administration Ministry of Public Administrations
Ministry of Territorial Policy
Ministry of Territorial Policyand Public Administration Elena Salgado 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE Manuel Chaves 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Culture Ministry of Culture César Antonio Molina 14 April 2008 7 April 2009 PSOE Ángeles González-Sinde 7 April 2009 22 December 2011 PSOEMinistry of Health Ministry of Healthand Consumer Affairs
Ministry of Healthand Social Policy