José Luis RodrÃguez Zapatero
Roles
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, born in Valladolid, Castilla y León, on August 4, 1960. He is the former Prime Minister of Spain, serving two times, the first in 2004 and the second term in 2008. He is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and was elected at the Secretary General for the party in 2000. Zapatero attended the University of León, where he studied Law. He is married to Sonsoles Espinosa and has two daughters – Laura and Alba.
Education
Jose Zapatero graduated with a degree in Law from the University of León in 1982. He then worked as a member of the faculty of the University after graduating from 1982 to 1986.
History
During the year 1979, he joined the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). In 1982, he became the leader of the socialist youth organization in the province of León. Zapatero was elected to the national parliament and became the youngest member during 1986. Two years after, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the León provincial federation of the (PSOE). Zapatero was able to maintain his seat in the Congress of Deputies after General Election in 1996. From 2000 to 2012, he ran for leadership of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and was elected Secretary General. Zapatero opposed the Popular Party (PP) Government with his promises of reforming the (PSOE), therefore allowing him to be chosen as a candidate for Prime Minister for the next general election in 2002. He was then elected as Prime Minister of Spain in 2004. Zapatero’s Socialist Party won the general elections, having more seats (164) in the Cortes than the People’s Party with only (148). During his time as Prime Minister: he withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, legalized same-sex marriage (2005), criminalization of domestic violence, reformed the education system, increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan. Zapatero was re-elected as Prime Minister of Spain, serving from 2008 to 2011.
