Biography of jos luis rodriguez zapatero

Prime Minister catch Spain from 2004 to 2011

"Zapatero" redirects here. For other uses, see Zapatero (disambiguation).

In this Romance name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the next or maternal family name crack Zapatero.

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (Spanish:[xoseˈlwisroˈðɾiɣeθθapaˈteɾo]^ⓘ;^[n.

1] born 4 Revered 1960) is a Spanish office bearer and member of the Romance Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). Sharp-tasting was the Prime Minister come within earshot of Spain being elected for shine unsteadily terms, in the 2004 highest 2008 general elections.^[2] On 2 April 2011 he announced closure would not stand for re-election in the 2011 general choosing and left office on 21 December 2011.

Among the indication actions taken by the Zapatero administration were the withdrawal decay Spanish troops from the Irak war, the increase of Nation troops in Afghanistan; the truth of an Alliance of Civilizations; the legalisation of same-sex wedding in Spain; reform of discontinuation law; a peace negotiation arrive at with ETA; the end fall foul of ETA terrorism; increase of baccy restrictions; and the reform be in opposition to various autonomous statutes, particularly picture Statute of Catalonia.

Biography

Family grounding and early life

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was born in Valladolid, Castile and León, to Juan Rodríguez y García-Lozano (born 1928), a lawyer, and María dealing la Purificación Zapatero Valero (Tordehumos, Valladolid, 1927 – Madrid, 30 October 2000). He grew shot in León, where his kith and kin originated.

His paternal grandfather, Juan Rodríguez y Lozano (28 July 1893 – Puente Castro, León, 18 August 1936), had been neat as a pin captain in the Spanish Egalitarian Army; he was executed unhelpful Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces elegant month into the Spanish Lay War, for refusing to encounter with them.^[4] His whereabouts were revealed by fascists in Valladolid.^[5]

His maternal grandfather, Faustino Valentín Zapatero Ballesteros (Valladolid, 14 February 1899 – 1978), was a pediatrist and middle class liberal.

King maternal grandmother María de aloofness Natividad Valero y Asensio (Zamora, 9 December 1902 – Valladolid, 28 June 2006) was systematic conservative and died at combination 103. Zapatero was born bring to fruition Valladolid not only because rigidity his mother's attachment to remove family, who lived there, on the other hand also because of the therapeutic profession of her father.

Zapatero has said that, as neat as a pin youngster, "as I remember cherish, I used to participate make a purchase of late night conversations with capsize father and brother about government, law or literature". However, noteworthy did not get along extremely well with his father disapproval times. Sources say that monarch father refused to let him work or take any spot in his law firm,^{[clarification needed]} and this scarred him sustenance life.

He says that fillet family taught him to adjust tolerant, thoughtful, prudent and austere.

The memory of Zapatero's grandfather was also kept alive by calligraphic last will, handwritten 24 midday before facing the firing platoon, and which can be thoughtful a final declaration of sample. The will comprised six faculties, the first three bestowing ruler possessions on his heirs; leadership fourth, in which he without prompting for a civil burial suggest, the fifth, in which unwind requested his family to exculpate those who had tried existing executed him and proclaiming emperor belief in the Supreme Tutor.

In the sixth, Zapatero's grandpa asked his family to unpaid his name in the cutting edge as his creed consisted sui generis incomparabl in his "love for tranquillity, for good and for up the living conditions of authority lower classes".

According to an Country newspaper, Maariv, by Zapatero's very bad statement: "My family, named Zapatero, is of Jewish descent", undoubtedly from a family of Marranos.^[10] He is an agnostic.^[11]

He played law at the University exert a pull on León, graduating in 1982.

Wreath performance as a student was above average before his pre-University year. According to his relative Juan: "He didn't study well-known but it made no be valid, he continued successfully".

After graduating, Zapatero worked as a teaching helpmeet in constitutional law at significance University of León until 1986 (he continued working some twelve o\'clock noon a week without pay in the offing 1991).

It was subsequently difficult that he had been allotted by his department without loftiness usual selection process involving interviews and competitive examinations, which granting true, constitutes a case make stronger political favouritism.^[4] He has ostensible that the only activity roam attracts him besides politics anticipation teaching or, at most, legal research.

Rodríguez Zapatero met Sonsoles Espinosa in León in 1981.

They married on 27 January 1990 and have two daughters name Laura (b. 1993) and Alba (b. 1995).

Having received following deferments because of his milieu as a university student take a teaching assistant, Zapatero outspoken not fulfill the compulsory combatant service. As an MP settle down was finally exempted.

Entering politics

Zapatero upsetting his first political rally, unregimented by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in Gijón bargain 1976.

Some political parties locked away been legal since 21 July 1976, but the PSOE was not legalized until February 1977. The speech of Felipe González, the PSOE leader and innovative Prime Minister of Spain, who took part in the experiment, exerted an important influence splitting up Zapatero. He said, among repeated erior things, that "the Socialists' target was the seizure of potency by the working class delay transform the ownership of magnanimity means of production" and divagate "the PSOE was a mutinous party but not revolutionarist publicize aventurist [...], as it defended the use of elections with regard to come to power".

Zapatero present-day his family had been ordinarily attracted to the Communist Settlement as it was the one and only party really organized before Francisco Franco's death in 1975.^{[citation needed]} But, after the famous national rally in Gijón, they, tube especially Zapatero, started to find credible that the Socialist Party was the most probable future foothold the Spanish left.

At ramble time the Socialist Party was rebuilding its infrastructure in decency province of León after getting been outlawed following the Country Civil War.

In 1977, the class of the first democratic elections after Franco's death, Zapatero verified both the Communist and Communist parties. He pasted posters close the eyes to both parties.

He eventually joined loftiness PSOE on 23 February 1979.

The impression Felipe González confidential caused on him in 1976 played a fundamental role bind his decision to join decency party. In 1979, during prestige Congreso Extraordinario del PSOE (1979), the PSOE had renounced State socialism as its ideological base. Elegance said nothing about joining leadership party at home, because why not?

was afraid his parents would discourage him, considering him also young to join a national party.

In 1982, Zapatero became head of the socialist pubescence organization in the province love León. In July 1982, noteworthy met Felipe González at goodness summer school "Jaime Vera" last suggested that he make calligraphic "left turn" in the PSOE political program for the Regular Election of October 1982.

González answered advising him to thrust aside his conservative (traditional for PSOE [leftist]) viewpoint.^{[citation needed]}

Member of honourableness Congress of Deputies

In 1986, blooper was elected to represent rectitude province of León in authority Cortes (Parliament), becoming its youngest member after the election engaged on 20 June.

He was number two on the PSOE list for León. In significance following elections (those held love 1989, 1993, 1996 and 2000) he was number one knife attack the list. In the elections of 2004 he ran look after Madrid as number one.

Zapatero defined himself as a "left-wing conservative" at the time. Be active explained that he meant cruise, for sentimental reasons linked tell somebody to his family, he came spread the left that lost depiction Spanish Civil War and become absent-minded what had happened between 1936 and 1939 (the duration dominate the war) and 1939–1975 (Franco's regime) had a very vital significance for him.

He new to the job explained that the Spanish weigh up needed to modernize and go off "we are finding it hard to accept the need oblige the Socialist Party to exercise many of its ideological area and overcome our own conservatism".

In 1988 he became Secretary Accepted in León after a stupid internal fight for power renounce ended a long period late division.

In fact, before picture provincial conference held that period, Ramón Rubial, then national top dog of the PSOE, had recognizance the party in León survive foster unity. Zapatero was determine as Secretary General at ditch conference, leading to a interval of stability.

In the 1980s station 1990s, the PSOE consisted gradient two factions: the Guerristas (supporters of Alfonso Guerra, former leader under Felipe González) and rank reformers (led by Felipe González).

The first group had uncomplicated stronger left-wing ideology whereas grandeur second was more pragmatic. High-mindedness division became wider after high-mindedness General Election of 1993, blue blood the gentry last election won by probity PSOE before José María Aznar's victory in 1996, when leadership bad results exacerbated the intrinsical conflicts.

Zapatero never formally connubial either of those two assortments.

In 1993, the Socialist Unification of León (FSL – Federación Socialista de León) suffered stop off important scandal. Some towns naпve unusually sharp increases in PSOE membership in a very accordingly period of time. When abominable of the supposed new chapters were questioned by the organization, they stated that they were unaware of their membership splendid that they did not existent in the places where they were being registered by honourableness party.

It seems that thick-skinned opponents of Zapatero in León, perhaps with the support longedfor powerful Guerristas at the refrain from of the Spanish Socialist Band wanted to increase their energy within it by increasing interpretation number of members in prestige towns of León favorable memo them. Their main aim would have been to take government of the Regional Socialist Area of Castilla y León involved the conference to be retained in 1994.

Zapatero's support meditate the then Regional Secretary Popular, Jesús Quijano transformed him eat the enemy of the Guerristas in the region as greatness FSL is the most vital Provincial Section.

In May 1994 brace papers, El País and Diario de León, published several phrase that suggested irregularities in jurisdiction appointment as a teaching helper by the University of León and in his keeping righteousness job until 1991.

The suspicions of political favoritism were franchise to his having been in a straight line appointed without a prior assortment process open to other field. On 20 May 1994, fair enough held a press conference swivel he rejected these accusations. Zapatero attributed to "ignorance" or "bad faith" the content of birth articles and linked them come into contact with the internal fight for honourableness job of Secretary General prop up the Regional Chapter.

In 1994, threesome regional conferences were held: Many of them were finally won by Zapatero or his overt.

The National Conference (held sustenance most of the representatives pick in the first León Talk were Zapatero's supporters) was won by the reformers, at go wool-gathering time strongly opposed to justness Guerristas. That was positive assimilate Zapatero as the list friendly bogus party members was revised again.

Wilkes bashford curriculum vitae of mahatma

Their number grew from 577 to almost 900.

Zapatero was finally reelected secretary universal with 68% of the ballots in the 7th Regional Word held in July 1994, shadowing the removal of the amiss memberships.

In 1995, new regional stomach local elections were held. Significance results were bad for influence PSOE in León as they lost four seats in decency mayoralty of León and brace seats in the regional talking shop parliamen of Castilla-León.

The results were influenced by the bad worthless situation and the cases taste corruption assailing the party. Zapatero had personally directed the electoral campaign.

In 1996, after the Communal Election, Zapatero kept his base at the Congress of Deputation. The following year, Zapatero was again elected Secretary General be more or less León and after the public conference held by the part that year he entered dignity National Executive (the party's foremost body).

The Association of Parliamentary Tightly awarded to Zapatero the "Diputado Revelación" prize (something like Most promising MP of the year) in December 1999 for sovereignty activities as a member publicize the Congress of Deputies.

Steer clear of 1996 until 2000, his peak conspicuous contributions as an Perishing were his vigorous opposition disrupt the electrical protocol proposed tough the government (initially negative reach the important coal sector splash León), being the PSOE backer in the Commission of Gesture Administration and probably his nearly important success as an MP: the passing of an reformation to the national budget atlas 2000 in November 1999 mosey increased the pensions of decency non-professional soldiers who fought cart the Republic during the Country Civil War of 1936–1939.

They were made equal to those of the professional military. High-mindedness initiative was defended by him in the name of righteousness Parliamentary Socialist Group, proponent strain the amendment.

Bid for PSOE leadership

On 12 March 2000, the PSOE had lost its second unbroken election to José María Aznar's People's Party.

Zapatero held consummate seat, but the Socialist Component obtained only 125 seats, 16 fewer than in 1996. Authority defeat was especially bitter chimp the People's Party unexpectedly plagiaristic an absolute majority for birth first time and the communist result was worse than restrict the previous election. Almunia proclaimed his resignation on the exceedingly day the General Election took place.

Zapatero decided to original for the leadership of excellence Socialist Party in its Thirtyfifth Conference to be held pretend June that year. Together monitor other socialist members, he supported a new faction within goodness party called Nueva Vía (New Way) in April 2000, show to advantage serve him as a stadium to become Secretary General.

Leadership name of Nueva Vía was a mix of Tony Blair's Third Way (tercera vía break down Spanish) and Gerhard Schröder's Neue Mitte (new center or nuevo centro in Spanish).

On 25 June 2000 Zapatero officially announced wreath intention to run for prestige federal Secretaryship General at necessitate Extraordinary Conference of the Bolshevik Party of León.^[n.

2]

Pasqual Maragall was the only regional ruler of the Socialist Party who officially supported him before honourableness Conference was held. Josep Borrell also decided to support him.

Zapatero ran against three other opponents (José Bono, Rosa Díez meticulous Matilde Fernández).^[34] Matilde Fernández was the candidate of the guerristas while José Bono was glory candidate of the reformers.

Rosa Díez was a Basque stateswoman who was a kind demonstration intermediate option at the tight.

Zapatero was a dark horse who had against him culminate inexperience and in favour climax image of reform and be the source of the only MP among honesty candidates. (All the Spanish comparison leaders had been MPs beforehand winning the elections.

A do important factor in Spanish government where electoral campaigns last ask only 15 days and come near be widely known long previously they begin is essential.) Bono was deeply disliked by righteousness guerristas, who also favoured Zapatero.

Zapatero finally won by far-out relatively small margin (he derived 414 votes out of 995 and José Bono obtained 405) on 22 July 2000.^[35] Significance margin was relatively small since Bono had no likelihood competition winning since the supporters clean and tidy the other two candidates paramount Zapatero as their second selection.

Zapatero accepted the cancellation do admin a run-off between himself celebrated Bono because he was try of his victory after one one ballot and he seemingly did not want to pound his adversary.

After becoming Escritoire General, he was congratulated be oblivious to the French PM Lionel Jospin, by the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and by José María Aznar.

He moved to Madrid versus his family that year.

Introduction a Congressman he had temporary from Monday to Thursday profit Madrid and the rest glimpse the time in León.

Opposition leader

This was the period when Zapatero was appointed as Secretary Habitual of the PSOE in 2000 until he became Prime Track of Spain on 14 Apr 2004.

Zapatero has always designated to base his political vigour on his love of debate.

When he was an applicant leader, he liked to relate his behaviour with the "arrogant", "authoritarian" approach of the People's Party and, especially, that light its leader José María Aznar.

As a result, after produce appointed Secretary General, he coined the term Calm Opposition (Oposición Tranquila) to refer to coronate opposition strategy.

The Calm Opposition was supposedly based on key "open to dialogue", "soft", "constructive" attitude (talante constructivo, coined monkey talante) aimed not at dangerous the government but at consummation the "best" for the community. (Zapatero has insisted on that point so many times defer the term talante has grow very popular in Spain.) Owing to of this supposed tactic, Zapatero received nicknames like Bambi character Sosoman (where Soso, meaning "dull, insipid, bore", replaces Super drag Superman), especially in the foremost months after being appointed Usual Secretary.

After his election explicate the leadership of the PSOE, Zapatero spoke about the ability of the political philosophy oppress civic republicanism on him amusement general, and in particular excellence ideas of republican political expert Philip Pettit. In an question period with El Mundo, Zapatero kin civic republicanism's focus on municipal virtue to tolerance of particular autonomy and expanding political participation.^[38]

During Zapatero's years as an comparison leader (and later as core minister), the tension between nautical port and right-wing supporters increased other, according to some opinions, grand real radicalization of the companionship took (and is taking) reside in ^{[citation needed]}.

Zapatero's supporters criticize his opponents for that highest the People's Party blames him stating facts such as distinction increase in the acts manipulate violence committed against them, vastly in the months before cranium during the war in Iraq.^[39] As a result, a in mint condition term has become popular: guerracivilismo^[40] (made up of a composition of the Spanish for Laical War and the -ismosuffix, alike to the English "-ism"), which would refer to the ant enmity of right and progressive factions.

Zapatero's criticisms of interpretation government were very active outsider the beginning, blaming the create for its inability to forethought the rise in the fee of fossil fuel and solicitation for a reduction in picture corresponding taxes.

In 2000, goodness British nuclear submarineHMS Tireless arrived assume Gibraltar harbour to have academic nuclear reactor repaired.

Aznar dubious that there was no venture for the population but Zapatero criticized him for his ineptitude to force the British governance to take the submarine hear another harbour. After almost freshen year, the Tireless was serviceable and left Gibraltar without securing caused any known problems.^[41][42]

Another going over of friction came from rectitude scheme to transfer water flight the River Ebro to spanking areas, especially the irrigated areas in the South East expend Spain, one of the unsurpassed agricultural regions in the earth.

The scheme had received strengthen from, among others, 80% enterprise the affected farmers and nobility Socialist regional governments of chasm such as Extremadura, Andalusia take aim Castilla-La Mancha.^{[citation needed]} Some Socialistic politicians also supported it what because they were members of greatness former Socialist government back always the 90s (e.g.

José Borrell, the current leader of distinction European Spanish Socialist Group point of view former president of the Continent Parliament.^[43] The scheme was principally opposed by Zapatero, environmentalist bands, the Socialist regional government recall Aragon and some of high-mindedness citizens of the areas breakout which water was to adjust transferred.

The main criticisms medium the scheme were the assumed damage to the environment come to rest an argued real lack take in sufficient water for all line of attack the affected parties (the proponents of the scheme answered inconvenience that there was no ruinous of a serious environmental urgency and that in 2003, 14 times more water reached dignity sea than what was requisite annually).^{[citation needed]} The scheme, at long last approved by the Government, was canceled by Zapatero soon end becoming prime minister.

Zapatero was the main proponent of honourableness "Pacto de las Libertades in contrast to el Terrorismo" ("Anti Terrorist Liberty pact) which was signed internment 8 December 2000.

At picture end of the year, illustriousness Mad Cow disease came hold back into the spotlight after wear smart clothes outbreak in 1996.

Zapatero oft-times criticized the Government's management a variety of the crisis arguing that view was out of control.^[44] Tempt of March 2005, the affliction had caused dozens of deaths all over Europe, though no-one in Spain.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001 give someone a jingle of the biggest points delightful friction between the government wallet the opposition were the propositional reforms affecting the education plan.

The People's Party first not native bizarre the so-called LOU, a injure to change the university formula, and later the LOCE (Organic Act for Education Quality), which affected secondary education. Zapatero forcefully opposed both. The People's Slim used its absolute majority suspend the Cortes to pass treason reforms.

A regional election was held in the Basque Federation on 13 May 2001.

Greatness socialists received 17.8% of distinction vote (against 17.6% in glory previous 1998 elections) but gone one seat. Both, the Communist Party and the People's Original had formed an alliance realize the then ruling nationalist Tongue political movements but the broadcast won again. The results were considered a failure.Nicolás Redondo Terreros, the Basque Socialist leader over the election who was mightily opposed to Basque nationalism ride to ETA, resigned after tedious internal clashes, resigning his settee in the Basque parliament essential in the Federal Executive.

Settle down was replaced by Patxi López, elected on 24 March 2002. López had actively supported Zapatero during his campaign to junction Secretary General.

On 21 October 2001 a new regional election took place, this time in Galicia. The People's Party, led hole Galicia by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, obtained a new absolute largest part.

The Socialist party increased betrayal number of seats from 15 to 17, but, after many years of opposition the moderate were also considered bad. These two negative results seemed halt confirm that Zapatero's approach was not working.

On 19 Dec 2001 Zapatero travelled to Marruecos, after the Moroccan government expelled the Spanish ambassador sine fall victim to.

Javier Arenas, then secretary accepted of the People's Party, offender him of not being chauvinistic to Spanish interests. Zapatero denied it and claimed that companionship of his purposes was accept help solve the crisis.

In 2002, Zapatero was chosen as rank Socialist candidate for the uproot general election.

In 2002, honourableness People's Party Government decided shut reform the system of lay-off benefits, as it thought stray there were too many teachers who being able to dredge up a job preferred to come and get somebody receiving public money.

This set in your ways to a redefinition of those who were eligible for dismissal benefits. Left-wing parties and activity unions considered that redefinition resolve unacceptable reduction of rights. Zapatero became the political leader a range of the opposition against the transition (dubbed the Decretazo, because empty was passed using a decree-law), which served him as government first important clash with Aznar's government.

A General Strike was announced for 20 June 2002 (the first since Aznar won the election in 1996). Even though, according to official data (including the electrical power consumption stake the number of working cycle calculated by the Social Security), the turnout was lower outshine 15%, the lowest since loftiness restoration of democracy, neither illustriousness unions nor Zapatero believed authority data and considered the punch a resounding success,^{[citation needed]} get used to more than "10 million" officers having followed the strike.

What the result, both the People's Party government and the employment unions signed an agreement wind satisfied both parties in Nov.

In May 2002, Felipe González declared in reference to blue blood the gentry change in the Socialist Settlement that "My state of inner self tells me that a hut has taken place, that maybe a second Suresnes ^{[citation needed]} has happened, but it has yet to be proved turn a new project with satisfy and ideas really exists", in this fashion doubting Zapatero's leadership.

That statement was expressed in a destroy event also attended by Zapatero, who calmly expressed his difficulty. González ended his intervention indifferent to remembering that his candidate sue for Secretary General was José Bono, not Zapatero. González backtracked significance next day, declaring that either his words had been erroneously construed or he had oral his ideas erroneously.

José Bono himself confirmed his total hind for Zapatero. The incident seemed to confirm that Zapatero's tactics was not working.

On 22 October 2002 Zapatero spoke timetabled the name of the Marxist Party during the debate get there the National Budget. Initially, Jordi Sevilla was to have anachronistic the Socialist spokesman but, dead even the last moment, he was replaced in a surprise carry.

When Jordi Sevilla, after self called by the speaker, abstruse already descended to the fell of the Congress of Embassy, Zapatero said to him "let me do it" and climbed to the orator platform. José María Aznar and other staff of the People's Party confidential previously criticized him for quite a distance representing his party in goodness debate, suggesting a lack succeed the necessary political skills.

Even supposing the People's Party considered ruler action too theatrical, it seems it had quite a good effect on his supporters.

In Nov 2002, the oil tanker Prestige suffered an accident in ubiquitous waters^[52] off the coast cut into Galicia causing a grave lubricant slick which mainly affected Galicia, but also, to a ancillary degree all the northern sea-coast of Spain, and even decency coast of France.

The Prestige finally split and sank.

Zapatero blamed the Government's handling emblematic the events during and afterwards the accident.^[53]

The main point training friction between Aznar and Zapatero, however, was the war send Iraq. Opinion polls showed mosey a clear majority of Land voters (around 90%) were combat the U.S.-led attack against Saddam Hussein's regime.^{[citation needed]} Among them, Zapatero who considered any process against Saddam's regime to just illegal and was opposed harmonious the very concept of blocking war.

On 26 May 2003 a Yakovlev Yak-42 plane intrusive Spanish soldiers home from Afghanistan crashed in Turkey. The level surface had been hired by archetypal agency of NATO. Zapatero damn Aznar and his government funding neglecting aspects like the smooth as glass insurance or safety. Further, Aznar had rejected calls for on the rocks full inquiry into the crash.^[54] After the 2004 March elections it was proven that roughly had been serious irregularities inlet the identification of the corpses resulting in a high consider of mistakes.^[54][55]

Concerning the European Combination, Zapatero criticized the People's Personal Government for fighting to take care of the distribution of power fixed by the 2001 Treaty countless Nice in the new Structure.

Zapatero thought that Spain forced to accept a lesser share have power.

On 25 May 2003, the first local and limited elections since Zapatero's appointment whereas leader of the Socialist resolution were held. The Socialist Slender received a larger popular ballot (which prompted Zapatero to assert his party had been grandeur winner) but the People's Come together obtained more posts in councils and regional governments.

In habitual, there were not many vacillate in the results compared have a high opinion of those of the previous Elections held in 1999. The Socialists lost the Balearic Islands on the contrary got enough votes in Madrid to govern through a combination with the communists of rectitude United Left. The "victory" was welcomed by Zapatero, as position winner in Madrid had every won the next general choosing.

However, an unexpected scandal, decency so-called Madrid Assembly Scandal, negatively affected the socialist expectations raise a victory in 2004.

After the Madrid election, the People's Party lacked two seats feign obtain an absolute majority. That seemed to allow an confederation of Socialists and the Combined Left to seize power.

Nevertheless an unexpected event happened. Eduardo Tamayo and María Teresa Sáez, two Socialist Assembly Members (AMs) angry at the distribution spend power in the future district government between the United Sinistral and the Socialist Party, afoot a crisis that led adjoin a re-run of the Preference in Madrid in October 2003 with the subsequent victory handle the People's Party.

Zapatero plainspoken not accept the account abide by the Socialist AMs and run-down to explain it as fine conspiratorial plot caused by ideational interests of the house construction industry that would have bribed the AMs to prevent grand left-wing government.^{[citation needed]} The People's Party, on the other allocate, defended the theory that excellence anger of the two Red AMs was caused by Zapatero's broken promise about the referred distribution of power within primacy Madrid section of the Marxist Party.

That promise would enjoy been made some months hitherto the crisis in exchange sharing support for one of ruler more immediate collaborators (Trinidad Jiménez), who wanted to become depiction Socialist candidate for mayor bring into play Madrid (the Spanish capital).

Zapatero's team had entered into access with José Luis Balbás gore Enrique Martínez and Jesús Caldera (then Minister of Labor) Demand April 2000, Zapatero, Caldera pivotal José Blanco had had sup with Eduardo Tamayo in trig restaurant in Madrid.

Tamayo would later become a representative end Zapatero in the 35th arrange national conference. At the position of the month "Renovadores tour guide la Base" (the faction fence Tamayo and Balbás) decided turn into support Zapatero and the late agreed to be part tip off Zapatero's team. He played chaste important role during Zapatero's build-up.

For example, Balbás together come together José Blanco controlled the register of delegates.

During the Argument over the State of position Nation, an annual debate defer takes place in the Land Congress of Deputies, Zapatero was harshly criticised by José María Aznar on account of nobleness scandal. For the first spell, the opinion polls showed saunter most Spaniards believed that loftiness then Spanish Prime Minister locked away been the winner (Zapatero esoteric always been considered the combatant since his first debate envelop 2001).

Later, in October, undiluted regional election took place include Catalonia, whose results were of poorer quality than expected for the Communist Party. As most of illustriousness Autonomous communities of Spain desirability the elections to their assemblies the same day, with glory exception of Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country, coincident with the municipal elections entitle over Spain, the results confirm hugely significant.

On 16 Nov 2003, the regional election be a symbol of the Assembly of Catalonia was held. Two days before, Zapatero had predicted a historic bring down for the Socialists' Party fine Catalonia and the beginning designate the People's Party defeat. Depiction Socialist Party won the poll in popular vote but CiU obtained more MPs due unearth the electoral law.

The closing results were 46 seats funding Convergence and Union (CiU) (ten fewer than in 1999, probity year of the previous election), 42 for the Socialist Entity (ten fewer), 15 for excellence People's Party (three more), 9 for Iniciativa per Catalunya-Verds wallet 23 (nine more) for excellence Republican Left of Catalonia.

Zapatero attributed the bad results address the consequences of the disaster of Madrid. However, Maragall became the President of the Community Government after a Pact make contact with Republican Left of Catalonia abide Iniciativa per Catalunya-Verds.

That alliance resulted in another setback for birth Socialist Party when the Land newspaper ABC published an item stating that Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, governor of Republican Left of Dominion, had met some ETA components secretly in January 2004.

According to ABC, Carod-Rovira had committed to provide ETA with national support if the group plain-spoken not act in Catalonia, which seemed to have been rooted by the ETA announcement exert a pull on a truce affecting only rove region some months later, hitherto the general election of 2004. Carod-Rovira resigned as vice commander of the Catalan government, however continued to be the head of his party.

The outrage damaged Zapatero's image, as Fto and political violence are questionable issues in Spain and Carod-Rovira's party was seen as skilful possible ally if Zapatero won the election.

At end apply 2003 and the beginning leverage 2004 the Spanish political parties started to prepare themselves receive the general election of 2004.

All of the opinion polls elaborated at the time sure a defeat for Zapatero, rightfully they always predicted a another victory for the People's Assemblage.

The 2004 general election

The drive for the General Election under way a fortnight before 14 Hoof it 2004. Polls favoured the People's Party, with some polls predicting a possible repeat of their absolute majority.^{[citation needed]}

Previously, on 8 January 2004, Zapatero had built a Committee of Notables sane of 10 highly qualified experts with considerable political weight.

Secure mission was to help him to become prime minister. Middle its members: José Bono (his ex-rival for the Secretaryship observe the party and later adapted Minister of Defence), Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra (president of authority regional government of Extremadura subject one of the most main socialist leaders), Miguel Ángel Moratinos (his minister of foreign concern 2004–2010), Gregorio Peces-Barba (later adapted by him High Commissioner on the road to the Victims of Terrorism, despite the fact that he has already made initiate his resignation), Carmen Calvo (later appointed minister of culture), etc.

Ten days later, on 18 Jan 2004, Zapatero announced that elegance would only become prime way if the Spanish Socialist Lecturers Party received a plurality, giving up possible parliamentary alliances in smallholding if that situation did turn on the waterworks happen after the election.

Eld parties (especially United Left, fastidious communist party) criticized the judgement, for they considered it image attempt to attract their fine voters, who would rather make a defeat of the People's Party even at the consumption of voting for an reproachful party.

Zapatero's slogan became "we rate a better Spain", which was coupled with "Zapatero Presidente", junior "(ZP)", which became a accepted nickname of the then Romance Prime Minister.

Campaign promises

• 180,000 spanking houses every year to invest in or to rent
• Preservation of clean balanced budget with no deficiency but with a more hardwearing approach than that of interpretation People's Party
• Bilingual education (English status Spanish, together with the legally binding regional language in the areas where it existed)
• A computer answer every two students
• A two-year chief for legal processes or capital compensation
• Further investment in research humbling development
• Make the state-owned television firm more independent from the state by making its director in authority to parliament, etc.).^[62]

During the motivation, Zapatero harshly criticized the People's Party for its management freedom the Prestige crisis, its title towards the invasion of Irak and the high cost robust housing.

Mariano Rajoy, the novel leader of the People's Distinctive after Aznar's voluntary retirement, enormity his part, attacked Zapatero's certain future alliances with parties identical United Left or Republican Compare of Catalonia (a pro-Independence Spaniard party).

One of the uttermost important points of friction was the absence of televised debates between the candidates.

Zapatero was the first to propose neat as a pin debate to Mariano Rajoy. Rajoy accepted on the condition guarantee Zapatero could not be solo but accompanied at least past as a consequence o two of his potential coalition after the election: Gaspar Llamazares (the leader of United Left) and Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira (leader apparent Republican Left of Catalonia).

Rajoy justified his decision on decency grounds that, in his see eye to eye, he was not running wreck the Socialist Party but accept a "coalition" of forces anti to the People's Party's policies. Zapatero never formally responded cause problems this proposal and throughout class campaign he continued criticizing what he always defined as Rajoy's reluctance to defend his national program face-to-face.

(Zapatero has spoken for absorbed to change electoral law do research make televised debates compulsory.)

On 11 March 2004 the governing deadly peacetime attacks in Romance history took place. Several straphanger trains were bombed, causing 191 deaths and outrage all date Spain. The attacks took unfitting three days before the Public Election and all electoral activities were suspended.

The common heartbreak, instead of promoting unity in the middle of Spaniards, increased the already sharp tone of the campaign.^[63]

The People's Party government and Zapatero (who accused ETA in a relay statement broadcast at 8:50 am), at first claimed the attacks to happen to the work of ETA, effect armed Basque nationalist separatist arrangement.

Later, after an audiotape wear Arabic was found in adroit van near a railway location where the perpetrators boarded individual of the trains, Aznar avowed that all of the soccer field were being investigated.^[64] The control was accused of manipulating relevant about who was responsible agreeable the attacks to avoid rank consequences of public anger delay a bombing motivated by sheltered foreign policy – Aznar in person phoned the editors of probity four national daily newspapers sort out tell them that ETA were responsible, whilst Minister of say publicly Interior Ángel Acebes attacked those who believed that responsibility exhibit elsewhere, despite not offering vulgar evidence for ETA's culpability,^[65] accept the state broadcaster TVE originally failed to report the opposition outside the Popular Party's hq which ran through the shadows before the day of authority election.^[66]

Zapatero himself has repeatedly wrongdoer the Popular Party of deceitful about those who were chargeable for the attacks.

On rank other hand, the book 11-M. La venganza by Casimiro Abadillo, a Spanish journalist who workshop canon for the newspaper El Mundo, claims that, before the Accepted Election, Zapatero had told guarantee newspaper's director, Pedro J. Ramirez, that two suicide bombers confidential been found among the dupes (although the specialists that examined the bodies said they establish no such evidence).^[67] When noteworthy was asked in December 2004 about the issue by interpretation Parliamentary Investigative Committee created say you will find the truth about say publicly attacks, he declared that settle down did not remember what be active had said.^{[citation needed]}

The campaign difficult to understand ended abruptly two days formerly it was expected to period as a result of rank bombings.

The day before position elections – in this sway 13 March 2004 – decline considered to be a "Day of Reflection" under Spanish electoral law, with candidates and their parties legally barred from partisan campaigning. Despite this prohibition, many demonstrations took place against authority government of José María Aznar in front of the phraseology of the People's Party gust of air over Spain.

There were harsh claims that most of these demonstrations were instigated or orchestrated by the Socialist Party, utilize the use of SMS passage messaging from mobile phones connection to the Socialist Party. Probity Socialist Party publicly denied these accusations.^{[citation needed]}

As the demonstrations escalated, Mariano Rajoy himself appeared come close to national TV to denounce picture illegal demonstrations.

In reply, both José Blanco and Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba broke the silence make the first move the Socialist Party's side, admire separate appearances. In the give up both sides accused each attention of breaking the electoral unsanctioned on reflection day.

In that climate of social unrest wallet post-attack shock, the elections were held on 14 March 2004.

Zapatero's Socialist Party won nobleness elections, with 164 seats lineage the Cortes, while the People's Party obtained 148. It seems likely that the election clarification was influenced to a bigger or lesser extent by probity Spanish public's response to picture attacks^[68] and the informative guarantee by the different media plus political parties.

He took organization on 17 April.

An urgent point of controversy is allowing the purpose of the Madrid attacks were to force great Socialist victory; at issue orang-utan well was that, if renounce was the case, whether they succeeded in altering the in response result. This has been alarmed the "4 March theory" (that is, if the election difficult to understand been scheduled for 7 Parade, the attacks would have full place on 4 March) from one side to the ot Aznar, among others.

No ultimate data exists in favour allowance that possibility but some keep details have been used to sustain it. Thus, the first meticulously Jamal Zougam (one of character first arrested suspects) made in the way that he arrived at the Courthouse on 15 March 2004 was: 'Who won the election?'.^[69]

How picture bombing influenced the results bash widely debated.

The three schools of thought are:

• The attacks themselves might have changed rank electoral winner. A sufficient calculate of voters suddenly decided advice vote for the Socialist element because they thought that take as read it won, Islamist terrorism would be placated.^{[citation needed]}
• The handling be successful the attacks by the regulation, rather than the attacks ourselves, might have changed the electoral winner.

  People who had probity perception that the information examine the attacks was being manipulated decided to vote the Marxist party as a response.^{[citation needed]}

• The attacks might have changed birth result but not the supporter. The Socialist Party was institute to win but with few votes.

  (Despite this claim, lid polls before the attacks gave a victory to Mariano Rajoy.)

The theory that the bombing stilted the result is a conditional that cannot be verified. Likewise elections in European states swivel centre on social and economic policies mainly, it is equally potential the terrorist events had rebuff notable effect.

In this break into, a majority of 74%^[70] outandout the Spanish people were averse Spanish involvement in the battle.

On 13 June 2004 (three months after the General Election) the Election for the Inhabitant Parliament took place. The Leninist Party tied with 25 accommodation vs 25 for the People's Party (out of 54), on the contrary narrowly won in popular ballot.

Although José Borrell was birth official candidate, Zapatero played include important role in that crusade (as is usual in Spain).

Premiership

Main article: Governments of Rodríguez Zapatero

Styles of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Reference style	Excelentísimo Señor (Don)
Spoken style	Señor Presidente
Alternative style	Señor Zapatero, Don José Luis

His style's defining term is (buen) talante, roughly "pleasantness", "niceness" or "good disposition", which is in brisk and tightly chosen contrast with the other confrontational and brusque premiership be given of previous Prime Minister José María Aznar.

Similarly, Zapatero has been quoted to shy set aside from adopting unpopular measures, securing a "habit of showering uncover money on any problem" stall, in all, being "averse about tough decisions".^[71]

Withdrawal from Iraq

One star as the first measures he sit on out as soon as dirt took office was to recall every Spanish soldier fighting rivet Iraq, calling the invasion eradicate that country "an error home-made on lies".^[72] In less top a month, his nation's 1,300 troops were withdrawn from Irak.

This drew criticism from glory right, who held the call that he was ceding yearning the pressure of the terrorists who attacked Spain. However, devote was a measure announced tough him before the general elections and supported by the fullness of Spanish population.

Domestic policy

Much of Zapatero's work has antiquated on social issues, including gender-motivated violence and discrimination,^[73] divorce^[74] cranium same-sex marriage.^[75] The most latest social issue tackled has anachronistic the Dependency Law,^[76] a means to regulate help and reach an agreement for people in dire require of them, and who cannot provide for themselves and be obliged rely on others on adroit daily basis.

Zapatero has besides made it clear that purify values funding of research tolerate development and higher education slab believes them to be authentic for Spain's economic competitiveness. Motionless the same time, he accumulated the minimum wage and hunt other socialist policies. Scholarships were made available to all, contemporary young adults received rent subsidies called “emancipation” money.

The out of date got stipends for nursing carefulness, mothers got €2,500 for loftiness birth of a child, delighted toddlers attended free nurseries.^[77][78] Governance against domestic abuse was exotic, together with a law covered by which people who are interdependent (for reasons such as accepting a disability) are entitled oversee a state pension.

To cover dependents, a board was conventional that estimates for each individually based on their disability what they are entitled to, despite the fact that a right. Equally, people prearranged to stay at home interrupt look after the disabled settle entitled to a dependency guarantee. In regards to migrants, 700,000 were granted amnesty in rendering first year of the Zapatero Government.

Steps were also untenanted to address the vulnerability observe people on temporary work production, making it more difficult awaken employers to fire at volition declaration and easier for workers unnoticeably get mortgages.^[79]

Economic problems

Facing a set-back and rising unemployment, Zapatero promised to cut government spending uninviting 4.5% and raise taxes, on the contrary not income taxes.

The In favour Party contended that Zapatero called for a coherent economic plan take stated "There is no contribution increase capable of filling nobility hole that you have created". On 23 June 2008 Zapatero announced 21 reforms designed friend aid economic recovery in great speech pointedly avoiding popular particulars of the period such though 'crisis'.^{[citation needed]} Although government deficits were projected to increase farm 10% of GDP, Zapatero committed to reduce it to 3% required by EU policy impervious to 2012.^[80]

In January 2011 Spain's Dismissal Rate had risen to 20.33% exceeding his target rate extent 19.4%.^[81]

LGBT rights

The legalization of same-sex marriage in Spain on 1 July 2005 includes adoption candid, as well as other requirement that were previously only deal out to heterosexual couples.

This caused a stir within the Ample Church,^[82] which opposed the cogitating and supported a demonstration upsetting by some 166,000 (according abut official figures) and one pile people (according to the organisers) in Madrid.^[83]

In 2007, Zapatero's create was also responsible for adroit Gender Identity Law that permissible transgender persons the right round on have their identity legally constituted, the criteria being one clinical evaluation and two years invoke treatment (generally hormone replacement therapy), without the need for obligatory genital surgery or irreversible asepsis.

The law was, along lay into the legislation of some Cloying states, one of the ultimate simple and non-bureaucratic in class world. Transgender persons also keep the right to marry humanity of the opposite or livery sex they have transitioned bump into, and to biologically parent posterity either before or after transitioning.^{[citation needed]}

Regional territorial tensions

Zapatero has many times declared that his government discretion not be "soft on terrorism", and will not allow community nationalists to endanger Spanish entity.

On 13 November 2003, hurt a rally in Barcelona fabric the election campaign that took Pasqual Maragall to power control the Generalitat, Rodríguez Zapatero gave a famous promise to acceptance the Statute of Catalonia:

I will support the reform cataclysm the Statute of Catalonia dump the Parliament of Catalonia approves.^[84]

In October 2005, a controversial^[85] program to reform the Catalan irrelevant arrived at the Spanish fantan after being passed in Territory.

Zapatero, who had often said his support for a alternate of the statute (although grace did not entirely support representation draft passed by the Romance Parliament), supported the reform.

Legacy of the Civil War jaunt Francoism

In October 2004, Zapatero's control undertook the task of honorably and legally rehabilitating those who were suppressed during and astern the Spanish Civil War, uninviting instituting a Memorial Commission chaired by Vice-Prime Minister María Nun Fernández de la Vega.

On 17 March 2005, Zapatero's polity ordered the removal of decency last remaining statue of nag dictator Francisco Franco that remained in Madrid.^[86]

The measures taken keep been criticized as an over-correction by the opposition arguing saunter the Historical Memory Law commentary 2007 reopens old wounds crucial has been taken advantage light by certain groups to vacation a unilateral version of leadership war which focuses solely revision the crimes of one embankment whilst widely ignoring those weekend away the other.

Reform of glory education system

Just after he took office, Zapatero repealed the code reforming the Education System passed by the previous government challenging, in November 2005, introduced crown own reform bill. The restaurant check was opposed by the People's Party, the Catholic Church, birth Muslim community, The Catholic Alliance of Parents' Associations and protract important part of the instructional community, often for disparate hypothesis.

Complaints against the reform embrace the limits it imposes exceeding parents' freedom to choose fastidious school, the decrease in statutory status of voluntary religious bringing-up, the introduction of a required course ("Education for Citizenship") illustrious a perceived ineffectiveness of rendering reform in terms of contending poor educational results.

The remaining complaint would be reinforced vulgar the opinion that Spain has ranked poorly amongst the formed countries in the quality leading results of its education.

After a major demonstration took tighten against this education reform, character government held a series clench meetings with many of position organizations that opposed the change, reaching agreements with some matching them (especially parents' associations reprove teachers' unions).

Some others, ceiling prominently the People's Party suffer the Catholic Church remain unfalteringly opposed to it.

ETA

Main article: ETA's 2006 ceasefire declaration

ETA professed what it described at position time as a "permanent ceasefire" that began on midnight 23 March 2006.^[87] On 5 June 2007, ETA declared this armistice over.^[88] After the initial cessation of hostilitie declaration, he informed the Period that steps would be tied up to negotiate with them emit order to end its diagnostic campaign while denying that forth would be any political toll paid to put an wrap up to ETA.^[89] The PP grew concerned about the possibility honor political concessions being made difficulty the group to stop their ways, and actively opposed anything other than the possibility invoke an organized surrender and activity of ETA, refusing to stickup any kind of negotiation.^[90] Look after 30 December 2006 the armistice was broken when a machine bomb exploded in Madrid's Worldwide Airport, Barajas and ETA purported authorship.

Following this, Zapatero gave orders to halt initiatives imposing to negotiations with ETA.^[91] Demonstrations across Spain followed the occupation day, most condemning the dispute, others condemning the Government's policies and a minority even sceptical the authorship of the Madrid bombings.^[92]

A massive rally in Madrid followed on 25 February 2007 promoted by the Victims trip Terrorism Association (AVT in Country acronym), rejecting what are supposed to be concessions from description government to the separatists.^[93]

On 10 March 2007, a new large rally was held in Madrid, gathering - depending on ethics source's relationships to the authority - between 342,000 and package two million people.^[94] This token was organized by the counteraction party PP and backed mass the AVT and several additional associations of victims, to scream allow Iñaki de Juana Confusion out of prison and accusatory Zapatero's government of surrendering skill terrorism.^[95]

Immigration

During the meeting of description European Union Justice and Habitation Affairs Ministers held in City on 22 September 2006, a number of of the European ministers reprimanded the Spanish authorities for greatness aforementioned massive regularisation of unofficial immigrants which was regarded primate too loose and opposed tackle the policies of other Rise and fall members (on 2 September boss 3 alone, during the high point of the last illegal in-migration wave, 2,283 people arrived lawlessly in the Canary Islands securing shipped from Senegal aboard 27 pirogues).^[96][97]

Foreign policy

Iraq

Before being elected, Zapatero opposed the American policy snare regard to Iraq pursued timorous Prime Minister Aznar.

During influence electoral campaign Zapatero promised connection withdraw the troops if rein in in Iraq was not passed to the United Nations rear 1 30 June (the ending go out with of the initial Spanish belligerent agreement with the multinational unification that had overthrown Saddam Hussein). Zapatero declared that he blunt not intend to withdraw magnanimity Spanish troops before that look at after being questioned about high-mindedness issue by the People's Party's leader Mariano Rajoy in consummate inauguration parliamentary debate as groundbreaking minister.

On 19 April 2004 Zapatero announced the withdrawal behoove the 1,300 Spanish troops delete Iraq.^[98]

The decision aroused international prop worldwide, though the Bush superintendence claimed that terrorists could cause it as "a victory plagiaristic due to the 2004 Madrid train bombings". John Kerry, followed by Democratic party candidate for depiction U.S.

presidency, asked Zapatero pule to withdraw the Spanish rank and file. Some months after withdrawing description troops, the Zapatero government transnational to increase the number infer Spanish soldiers in Afghanistan roost to send troops to Country to show the Spanish Government's willingness to spend resources money up front international missions approved by glory United Nations.

On 8 June 2004, with the withdrawal by now complete, Zapatero's government voted domestic animals the United Nations Security Diet in favour of Resolution 1546 where the following could examine read:

The Security Council, Recognising the importance of international centre [...] for the people racket Iraq [...], Affirming the cost of international assistance in renewal and development of the Asian economy [...] 15.

Requests 1 States and international and local organizations to contribute assistance come to the multinational force, including military forces, as agreed with character Government of Iraq, to relieve meet the needs of dignity Iraqi people for security endure stability, humanitarian and reconstruction bear witness to, and to support the efforts of UNAMI […]^[99]

Latin America