María Teresa Fernández de la Vega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 72nd President of the Council of State | |
| In office 3 July 2018 – 19 October 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | José Manuel Romay Beccaría |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Valerio |
| First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain | |
| In office 18 April 2004 – 21 October 2010 |
|
| Monarch | Juan Carlos I |
| Prime Minister | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo Rato |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba |
| Minister of the Presidency | |
| In office 18 April 2004 – 21 October 2010 |
|
| Prime Minister | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| Preceded by | Javier Arenas |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Jáuregui |
| Member of the Congress of Deputies | |
| In office 9 March 2008 – 21 October 2010 |
|
| Constituency | Valencia |
| In office 14 March 2004 – 9 March 2008 |
|
| Constituency | Madrid |
| In office 12 March 2000 – 14 March 2004 |
|
| Constituency | Segovia |
| In office March 1996 – March 2000 |
|
| Constituency | Jaen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega Sanz
15 June 1949 Valencia, Spain |
| Political party | PSOE |
| Other political affiliations |
PSUC |
| Alma mater | Complutense University of Madrid |
| Profession | Jurist |
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega Sanz, born on June 15, 1949, is a Spanish politician and a legal expert. She is a member of the Socialist Party. She held several important roles in the Spanish government.
From 2004 to 2010, she served as the first deputy prime minister, the minister of the Presidency, and the government spokesperson under Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. She was the first woman to hold the position of deputy prime minister in Spain. Later, from 2018 to 2022, she became the president of the Council of State, an important advisory group for the government. She was also the first woman to lead this council.
Contents
Early Life and Education
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1949. Her father, Wenceslao Fernández de la Vega Lombán, worked for the government during the time of Franco's dictatorship.
She studied law at the Complutense University of Madrid in the early 1970s. In 1974, she joined a special group of civil servants in Spain who focused on legal matters related to work. She is also the niece of Jimena Fernández de la Vega, who was one of the first women to earn a degree in Medicine in Spain.
Political Journey
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega began her political career with the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia. She was a member of this party until 1979.
Working in Justice
From 1982 to 1985, she was a director in the advisory team for the Minister of Justice. In 1985, she became the general director of services at the Ministry of Justice. She also joined the legal cooperation committee of the Council of Europe in 1986.
In 1990, the Senate chose her to be a spokesperson for the General Council of Judicial Power. This council helps manage Spain's courts. In 1994, she was appointed as the first Secretary of State for Justice.
Serving in Parliament
Fernández de la Vega was elected as a member of the Spanish Congress for Jaén in 1996. She was re-elected in 2000 for Segovia. During this time, she became the general secretary for the Socialist group in parliament.
In the 2004 general election, she was elected for Madrid. On April 18, 2004, she was appointed as the first vice president and minister of the Presidency.
First Female Acting Prime Minister
On April 24, 2004, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega made history. She became the first woman to act as prime minister in Spain's democratic history. This happened when Prime Minister Zapatero was on his first official trip abroad, and she led the Council of Ministers in his place.
Later Political Roles
In March 2006, she traveled to Africa, visiting Kenya and Mozambique. In Maputo, Mozambique, she celebrated International Women's Day and took part in a forum called "Spain-Africa: Women for a better world."
For the 2008 elections, Fernández de la Vega led the Socialist Party's list in Valencia. She left her political offices in October 2010.
Leading the Council of State
After stepping away from front-line politics, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega was chosen by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to lead the Council of State. She took on this role on July 5, 2018. She was the first woman to chair this important advisory council for the Spanish government. She served in this role until October 2022.
Other Activities and Recognition
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega has been involved in other activities, such as being a member of "Judges for Democracy." She also served on the Advisory Board for the Graduate School for Global and International Studies at the University of Salamanca.
She has also written several papers on legal topics.
Awards and Honors
- On October 7, 2006, she received the Tomás y Valiente Award in Fuenlabrada, Madrid.
- On November 6, 2010, she was given the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, a high honor in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: María Teresa Fernández de la Vega para niños
- Council of Ministers of Spain (8th Legislature)
