Third Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Third Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
Coat of arms of Spain
Incumbent Sara Aagesen since 25 November 2024
Government of Spain Council of Ministers
Style	Excelentísimo/a Señor/a
Member of	Cabinet
Residence	Palacio de la Moncloa
Seat	Madrid, Spain
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	Monarch Countersigned by the Prime Minister of Spain
Term length	No fixed term No term limits
Constituting instrument	Organic Act of the State of 1967 (original) Constitution of 1978 (current)
Formation	3 January 1974 (51 years ago) (1974-01-03)
First holder	Licinio de la Fuente

The Third Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, also called the Third Vice President of the Government of Spain, is a very important role in the Government of Spain. This job is not always around. It only exists when the Prime Minister decides it's needed.

This position has not been used very often. It was used three times during the final years of the Franco dictatorship (a period when Spain was ruled by General Franco). It has also been used three times since Spain became a democracy in 1977.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister does not have special powers beyond being a member of the Council of Ministers. This group helps the Prime Minister run the country. The main purpose of this role is to step in for the Prime Minister if they are away, sick, or if the position is empty. However, the Third Deputy only takes over if the First and Second Deputy Prime Ministers are also unable to do the job.

History of the Role
People Who Have Held the Office
Related Positions
See also

History of the Role

How the Position Started

The job of Third Deputy Prime Minister was created in January 1974. The first person to hold this role was Licinio de la Fuente. He was also the Minister of Labour at the time.

De la Fuente felt that the Third Deputy Prime Minister role was mostly symbolic. He believed it did not have any real extra powers. He wanted to lead a special committee to deal with social issues, but the Prime Minister did not agree. Because of these disagreements, De la Fuente resigned on March 5, 1975.

Changes and New Leaders

After De la Fuente left, Fernando Suárez González took over as both Third Deputy and Labour Minister. He helped pass some laws that De la Fuente had started. A few months later, Juan-Miguel Villar Mir became the Third Deputy Prime Minister. He was also the Minister of Economy and Finance.

The position was not used again for a while. Then, in 1977, Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez appointed Fernando Abril Martorell as Third Deputy. His official title was Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs. He was mainly in charge of connecting the government with the Parliament.

Modern Use of the Role

The position was not used for over 30 years after 1978. It was brought back in 2009 by Prime Minister Zapatero. He appointed Manuel Chaves as Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Policy. Chaves later moved up to become the Second Deputy in 2011.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy never used this position. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not use it in his first government. However, he did use it in his second government. In 2020, Sánchez appointed Nadia Calviño as Third Deputy Prime Minister. She was also the Economic Affairs Minister. In 2021, she was promoted to Second Deputy. Yolanda Díaz, the Labour Minister, then became the Third Deputy.

Since November 25, 2024, Sara Aagesen has been serving as the Third Deputy Prime Minister.

People Who Have Held the Office

This table shows the people who have served as the Third Deputy Prime Minister of Spain.

Official Name of the Role:

Third Vice Presidency of the Government (1974–1975; 1977–1978; 2009–2011; 2020–present)
Vice Presidency of the Government for Economic Affairs (1975–1976)

Portrait	Name (Lifespan)	Term of office			Party		Government	Prime Minister (Tenure)		Ref.
Portrait	Name (Lifespan)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Party		Government	Prime Minister (Tenure)		Ref.
	Licinio de la Fuente (1923–2015)	4 January 1974	5 March 1975	1 year and 60 days		National Movement (FET–JONS)	Arias Navarro I		Carlos Arias Navarro (1973–1976)
	Fernando Suárez González (1933–2024)	5 March 1975	12 December 1975	282 days		National Movement (Nonpartisan)	Arias Navarro I
	Juan Miguel Villar Mir (1931–2024)	12 December 1975	5 July 1976	206 days		National Movement (Nonpartisan)	Arias Navarro II
Office disestablished during this interval
	Fernando Abril Martorell (1936–1998)	5 July 1977	25 February 1978	235 days		Independent	Suárez II		Adolfo Suárez (1976–1981)
Office disestablished during this interval
	Manuel Chaves (born 1945)	7 April 2009	12 July 2011	2 years and 96 days		PSOE	Zapatero II		José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (2004–2011)
Office disestablished during this interval
	Nadia Calviño (born 1968)	13 January 2020	31 March 2021	1 year and 77 days		Independent	Sánchez II		Pedro Sánchez (2018–present)
	Yolanda Díaz (born 1971)	31 March 2021	12 July 2021	103 days		PCE
	Teresa Ribera (born 1969)	12 July 2021	21 November 2023	3 years and 136 days		PSOE
	Teresa Ribera (born 1969)	21 November 2023	25 November 2024	3 years and 136 days		PSOE	Sánchez III
	Sara Aagesen (born 1976)	25 November 2024	Incumbent	251 days		Independent	Sánchez III