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1st government of José María Aznar
Flag of Spain.svg
Government of Spain
1996–2000
Primer Gobierno de José María Aznar (1996).jpg
Primer Gobierno de José María Aznar (1999) 02.jpg
The government in May 1996 (top) and April 1999 (bottom).
Date formed 6 May 1996
Date dissolved 28 April 2000
People and organisations
Monarch Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister José María Aznar
Deputy Prime Ministers Francisco Álvarez-Cascos1st, Rodrigo Rato2nd
No. of ministers 15
Total no. of members 19
Member party   PP
Status in legislature Minority government
Opposition party   PSOE
Opposition leader Felipe González (1996–1997)
Joaquín Almunia (1997–1998)
Josep Borrell (1998–1999)
Joaquín Almunia (1999–2000)
History
Election(s) 1996 general election
Outgoing election 2000 general election
Legislature term(s) 6th Cortes Generales
Budget(s) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Predecessor González IV
Successor Aznar II

The first government of José María Aznar was formed on 6 May 1996, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 4 May and his swearing-in on 5 May, as a result of the People's Party (PP) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 1996 Spanish general election. It succeeded the fourth González government and was the Government of Spain from 6 May 1996 to 28 April 2000, a total of 1,453 days, or 3 years, 11 months and 22 days.

The cabinet comprised members of the PP and a number of independents. It was automatically dismissed on 13 March 2000 as a consequence of the 2000 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.

Investiture

Investiture
José María Aznar (PP)
Ballot → 4 May 1996
Required majority → 176 out of 350 YesY
181 / 350
166 / 350
1 / 350
2 / 350
Sources

Cabinet changes

Aznar's first government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:

  • On 16 July 1998, Josep Piqué was assigned the functions of Spokesperson of the Government after the resignation of Miguel Ángel Rodríguez as Secretary of State for Press on 10 July. The office had been vacant de jure since the new government was sworn into office in May 1996, but Rodríguez exercised as de facto spokesperson by attending press conferences held after the councils of ministers until his resignation and Piqué's subsequent appointment.
  • On 19 January 1999, following the nomination of Javier Arenas and Esperanza Aguirre to become new secretary-general of the People's Party (PP) and President of the Senate of Spain, respectively, a cabinet reshuffle ensued which saw Manuel Pimentel being named as new Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, whereas Mariano Rajoy replaced Aguirre in Education and Culture. Ángel Acebes was appointed to fill Rajoy's vacancy in the Public Administrations ministry.
  • On 30 April 1999, Jesús Posada replaced Loyola de Palacio in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food portfolio after the latter was nominated on 22 April to run as the PP leading candidate in the 1999 European Parliament election.
  • On 21 February 2000, Manuel Pimentel resigned as Minister of Labour and Social Affairs as a result of a scandal involving irregularities conducted by one of his closest collaborators, Juan Aycart, leading Aznar to appoint Juan Carlos Aparicio as a replacement.

Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the two deputy prime ministers, 14 ministries and the post of the spokesperson of the Government.

Aznar I Government
(6 May 1996 – 28 April 2000)
Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Prime Minister José María Aznar PP 5 May 1996 27 April 2000
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of the Presidency
Francisco Álvarez-Cascos PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Second Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Economy and Finance
Rodrigo Rato PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abel Matutes PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Justice Margarita Mariscal de Gante Independent 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Defence Eduardo Serra Rexach Independent 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of the Interior Jaime Mayor Oreja PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Development Rafael Arias-Salgado PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Education and Culture Esperanza Aguirre PP 6 May 1996 19 January 1999
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Javier Arenas PP 6 May 1996 19 January 1999
Minister of Industry and Energy Josep Piqué Independent 6 May 1996 15 July 1998
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Loyola de Palacio PP 6 May 1996 30 April 1999
Minister of Public Administrations Mariano Rajoy PP 6 May 1996 19 January 1999
Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs José Manuel Romay Beccaría PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Minister of Environment Isabel Tocino PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000
Spokesperson of the Government Miguel Ángel Rodríguez PP 8 May 1996 10 July 1998

Changes July 1998

Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Industry and Energy
Spokesperson of the Government
Josep Piqué Indep./PP 16 July 1998 28 April 2000

Changes January 1999

Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Education and Culture Mariano Rajoy PP 19 January 1999 28 April 2000
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Manuel Pimentel PP 19 January 1999 20 February 2000
Minister of Public Administrations Ángel Acebes PP 19 January 1999 28 April 2000

Changes April 1999

Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jesús Posada PP 30 April 1999 28 April 2000

Changes February 2000

Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Juan Carlos Aparicio PP 21 February 2000 28 April 2000

Departmental structure

José María Aznar'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
Office
(Original name)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Alliance/party Ref.

Prime Minister's Office

Prime Minister
(Presidencia del Gobierno)
José María Aznar 1999 (cropped).jpg José María Aznar 5 May 1996 26 April 2000 PP

First Deputy Prime Minister
(Vicepresidencia Primera
del Gobierno)
Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 1996 (cropped).jpg Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP
See Ministry of the Presidency
Second Deputy Prime Minister
(Vicepresidencia Segunda
del Gobierno)
Rodrigo Rato 1996b (cropped).jpg Rodrigo Rato 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP
See Ministry of Economy and Finance

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores)
Abel Matutes 1996 (cropped).jpg Abel Matutes 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice
(Ministerio de Justicia)
Margarita Mariscal de Gante 1996b (cropped).jpg Margarita Mariscal de Gante 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP
(Independent)

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence
(Ministerio de Defensa)
Eduardo Serra 1997 (cropped).jpg Eduardo Serra Rexach 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP
(Independent)


Ministry of Economy and Finance

Ministry of Economy and Finance
(Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda)
Rodrigo Rato 1996b (cropped).jpg Rodrigo Rato 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of the Interior

Ministry of the Interior
(Ministerio del Interior)
Jaime Mayor Oreja 2009b (cropped).jpg Jaime Mayor Oreja 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Development

Ministry of Development
(Ministerio de Fomento)
Rafael Arias-Salgado 1980b (cropped).jpg Rafael Arias-Salgado 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Education and Culture

Ministry of Education and Culture
(Ministerio de Educación y Cultura)
Esperanza Aguirre 1998 (cropped).jpg Esperanza Aguirre 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP





Mariano Rajoy 2003 (cropped).jpg Mariano Rajoy 19 January 1999 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Ministry of Labour
and Social Affairs
(Ministerio de Trabajo
y Asuntos Sociales)
Javier Arenas 1996 (cropped).jpg Javier Arenas 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP


Manuel Pimentel 2007b (cropped).jpg Manuel Pimentel 19 January 1999 20 February 2000
(resigned)
PP
Juan Carlos Aparicio 2002b (cropped).jpg Juan Carlos Aparicio 21 February 2000 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Industry and Energy

Ministry of Industry and Energy
(Ministerio de Industria y Energía)
Josep Piqué 1999 (cropped).jpg Josep Piqué 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP
(PP from Jan 1999;
Indep. until Jan 1999)



Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food
(Ministerio de Agricultura,
Pesca y Alimentación)
Loyola de Palacio 1996b (cropped).jpg Loyola de Palacio 6 May 1996 30 April 1999 PP

Jesús Posada 2002 (cropped).jpg Jesús Posada 30 April 1999 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of the Presidency

Ministry of the Presidency
(Ministerio de la Presidencia)
Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 1996 (cropped).jpg Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Public Administrations

Ministry of Public Administrations
(Ministerio de Administraciones
Públicas)
Mariano Rajoy 2003 (cropped).jpg Mariano Rajoy 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP


Ángel Acebes 2001 (cropped).jpg Ángel Acebes 19 January 1999 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs

Ministry of Health
and Consumer Affairs
(Ministerio de Sanidad
y Consumo)
José Manuel Romay Beccaría 2015c (cropped).jpg José Manuel Romay Beccaría 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Environment
(Ministerio de Medio Ambiente)
Isabel Tocino 1996b (cropped).jpg Isabel Tocino 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP

Spokesperson of the Government

Spokesperson of the Government
(Portavoz del Gobierno)
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez 1996 (cropped).jpg Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
(de facto)
8 May 1996 10 July 1998
(resigned)
PP
Josep Piqué 1999 (cropped).jpg Josep Piqué 16 July 1998 28 April 2000 PP
(PP from Jan 1999;
Indep. until Jan 1999)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primer Gobierno Aznar para niños

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