First government of José María Aznar

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 days, or .

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

InvestitureCongress of Deputies Ballot → 4 May 1996 Required majority → 176 out of 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 Prime Minister José María Aznar PP 5 May 1996 27 April 2000 First Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of the Presidency Francisco Álvarez-Cascos PP 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 Second Deputy Prime MinisterMinister 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 Minister of Industry and EnergySpokesperson of the Government Josep Piqué Independent 16 July 1998 28 April 2000 Changes January 1999 Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office 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 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 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 () 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 María Aznar 5 May 1996 26 April 2000 PP First Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP See Ministry of the Presidency Second Deputy Prime Minister Rodrigo Rato 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP See Ministry of Economy and FinanceMinistry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abel Matutes 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Justice Ministry of Justice Margarita Mariscal de Gante 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Defence Ministry of Defence Eduardo Serra Rexach 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Economy and Finance Ministry of Economy and Finance Rodrigo Rato 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of the Interior Ministry of the Interior Jaime Mayor Oreja 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Development Ministry of Development Rafael Arias-Salgado 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Education and Culture Ministry of Education and Culture Esperanza Aguirre 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP Mariano Rajoy 19 January 1999 28 April 2000 PPMinistry of Labour and Social Affairs Ministry of Labourand Social Affairs Javier Arenas 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP Manuel Pimentel 19 January 1999 20 February 2000 PP Juan Carlos Aparicio 21 February 2000 28 April 2000 PPMinistry of Industry and Energy Ministry of Industry and Energy Josep Piqué 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ministry of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food Loyola de Palacio 6 May 1996 30 April 1999 PP Jesús Posada 30 April 1999 28 April 2000 PPMinistry of the Presidency Ministry of the Presidency Francisco Álvarez-Cascos 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Public Administrations Ministry of Public Administrations Mariano Rajoy 6 May 1996 19 January 1999 PP Ángel Acebes 19 January 1999 28 April 2000 PPMinistry of Health and Consumer Affairs Ministry of Healthand Consumer Affairs José Manuel Romay Beccaría 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment Isabel Tocino 6 May 1996 28 April 2000 PP Spokesperson of the Government Spokesperson of the Government Miguel Ángel Rodríguez 8 May 1996 10 July 1998 PP Josep Piqué 16 July 1998 28 April 2000 PP

First government of José María Aznar

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