Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Kingdom of Spain/ Estado Espanol/ Reino de España
(Female suffrage 1931/76)  

Also see
Spain Heads and Spain Parliament, Ciudad de Ceuta and Melilla


1885-86 Queen-Governor and Regent of the Realm María Cristina de Austria y Austria-Este (25.11-17.5)
1996-1902 Queen Regent of the Realm (17.5.-17.5)
She was Regent first during the vacancy of the Throne and pending the gestation of a posthumous heir - her son Alfonso XIII (1886-1931-41), who was born 6 months after the death of her husband Alfonso XII. Her oldest daughter, Infanta Maria de Mercedes de Borbon y Austria (1880-1904) was Princess of Asturias, Heir-Presumptive all her life. María Cristina lived (1859-1929).

1936-37 Minister of Health and Social Assistance Federica Montserny i Mañé
Government-Delegate in Barcelona in 1939 and exile in France 1939-77. She lived (1905-94).

1981-82 Minister of Culture Prof. Soledad Becerril Bustamante Atienza
Third Secretary of the Congreso Between 1977-80, 1. Deputy Mayor 1991-95 and Mayor of Sevilla 1995-99, Vice-President of the Congreso de los Dipotados 2000-04. (b. 1944-).

1981 Secretary of State of Information Rosa Maria Posada Chapado
President of Parliament of the Province of Madrid 1987-91 and Councillor of Social Affairs and Health of Madrid 1996-99.

1982-87 Secretary of State of Autonomous Regions Maria Izquierdo Rojo
(b. 1946-).

1988-93 Minister of Social Affairs Mathilde Fernández Sanz
In 2000 she was candidate for the leadership of PSOE, she finished third with Rosa Díez in fourth place. (b. 1950-).

1988-93 Minister without Portfolio and Government Spokesperson
1993-96 Secretary of State of the President of the Government Rosa Conde de Espinosa Gutiérez del Alamzo
(b. 1947- ).

1988-90 Subsecretary of Social Affairs Carlota Bustelo y Garcia Real

1991-93 Subsecretary of Health and Consumer's Affairs Dr.iur. María de los Ángeles Amador Millán
1993-96 Minister of Health and Consumer's Affairs
(b. 1949-).

1993-96 Minister of Culture Carmen Alborch Bataller
Defender of the Public (Ombudsman) from 2004. (b. 1947-).

1993-96 Minister of Social Affairs Cristina Alberdi Alonso
(b. 1946-).

1993-96 Secretary of State of Environment and Housing Christina Narbona Ruiz
2004-08 Minister of Environment
Deputy Councillor of Economy in Andalucia 1982-85, Director General in the Ministry of Public Works and Urban Development 1991-93, Secretary for Environment and Planning of the Socialist PSOE in 2001. (b. 1951-).

1993-96 Subsecretary of Justice and Interior Margarita Robles Fernandez

1993-96 Secretary of State for Prison Affairs Maria Paz Antonia Fernandez Felgueroso
Councillor in a number of resorts in the Principado de Asturias 1987-93.

1993-96 Subsecretary of Health and Consumer’s Affairs Ana Craes Pando
(b. 1954- ).

1994-96 Secretary of State of Justice María Teresa Fernández de la Vega Sanz
2004- 1. Vice-President of the Government, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson
Secretary General of PSOE in the Congreso de los Deputados until 2004. (b. 1949-).

1996-99 Minister of Education and Culture Esperanza Aguirre y Gil de Biedma
1999-2003 President of the Senate
President of Partido Popular of Madrid 1983-87,  Deputy Mayor of the City of Madrid for Environment 1991-96 and President of the Government osf the Community of Madrid from 2003. 

1996-2000 Minister of Justice Margarita Mariscal de Gante y Mirón
First Vice-President of the Congress of Deputies 2002-04.

1996-99 Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Loyola de Palacio del Valle-Lersundi
1999-2004 Vice-President of the EU-Commission and Commissioner for Relations with the Institutions and Commissioner of Transport
President of the Youth Organistation of Partido Popular in 1977, Vice-President of the Senate Group 1986-89, Deputy Spokesperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Congress 1988-96, Secretary General of the Cortes Popular Coalition Group 1988-93, Senator 1986-89, Member of Cortes 1989-99. Sister of Ana Palacio, who became Foreign Minister in 2002. Died of cancer, and lived (1950-2006).

1996-2000 Minister of Environment Dr. Isabel Tocino Biscarolasaga
Secretary for Women’s Affairs Between 1986-89 and from 1989 one of 6 vice-Presidents of PP, from 2000 Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congreso. Mother of 6 children. (1944-).

1996-2000 Subsecretary of Culture and Education Dr. Ana María Pastor Julián
2000-01 Subsecretary of the Presidency (Premier Minister)
2001-02 Subsecretary of State of the Interior
2002-04 Minister of Health and Consumer Protection

1999-2000 Secretary of State of Trade, Tourism and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Ministry of Economy and Finance María Elena Pisonero Ruiz

2000-04 Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Pilar del Castillo Vera

2000-02 Minister of Health and Consumer Protection Celia Villalobos Talero Efe
From 1995 Mayor of Málaga (b. 1949-).

2000-02 Minister of Innovation and Technology Anna Birulés i Bertran
Councillor of Industry of the Generalitat pf Catalunya 1996-2000 and before that Councillor Director General of Retevíson. (b. 1954-).

2000-04 Secretary of State of Budgets and Expenditures in the Ministry of Finance María Elvira Rodríguez Herrer
Hitherto general director of Budgets in the Ministry of Economy and Finance; now this portfolio has been divided into two. (b. 1949-).

2000-02 Subsecretary of Public Administrations María Dolores de Cospedal García
2002-04 Subsecretary of Interior
Former Technical General Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. (b. 1965-).

2000-04 Subsecretary of the Environment María Jesús Fraile Fabra
Until 2000 Councillor of Culture, Education and Sports of the Madrid City Council.

2002-04 Minister of External Relations Ana Palacio Vallelersundi
She held various high administrative and political positions before being elected to the European Parliament in 1994 where she chaired a number of committees and member of the Presidium of the European Convention 2002-03, Vice-President and General Advocate of the World Bank from 2006. Sister of the late Loyola de Palacio del Valle-Lersundi, former Minister and Vice-President of the European Commission. (b. 1948-).

2002-04 Subsecretary of Justice Maria José García Beato

2003-04 Minister of Public Administration Julia García-Valdecasas Salgado
Government-Delegate in Cataluña/Catalunya 1996-2003.

 

2003-04 Minister of Environment Elvira Rodríguez Herrer
Councillor of Transport in the Automomous Community of Madrid 2006-07 and President of the Assembly of Madrid from 2007. (b. 1949-).

2003-04 Subsecretary of External Relations María Victoria Morera Villuendas
Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs 2002-04.

 

2003-04 Subsecretary of Public Administration Dolores de la Fuente Vázquez

2004-09 Minister of Infrastructures, Public Works and Transport Magdalena Álvarez Arza
Councillor of Finance and Economy of Andalucía 1994-2000. (b. 1952-).

2004-07 Minister of Culture and Communication Carmen Calvo Poyato
Councillor of Culture of the Junta of Andalucía 1996-2000, 1. Vice-President of the Congreso de Diputados 2007-08. (b. 1957-).

2004-07 Minister of Health Elena Salgado Méndez
2007-09 Minister of Public Administration and Civil Service
2009- 2. Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Finance and Economy
Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment 1991-96 and President of the WHO Assembly in 2005. (b. 1949-).

2004-08 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Elena Espinosa Mangana
2008- Minister of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs
The Ministries of Agriculture and Environment merged in 2008 under a new name. (b. 1960-).

2004-06 Minister of Education and Science María Jesús San Segundo Gómez de Cadiñanos
(b. 1958-).

2004-07 Minister of Housing María Antonia Trujillo Rincón
Councillor of the Presidency 1999-20003 and Councillor of Development of the Junta of Extremadura 2003-04. (b. 1960-).

2004-08 Secretary of State of External Relations for International Cooperation Leire Pajín Iraola
MP from 2000. Organisatorial Secretary of PSOE from 2008. (b. 1976-).

2004-09 Secretary of State of Social Services, Family and Handicapped Amparo Valcarce García
Government Delegate of Madrid from 2009. (b. 1956-).

2004- Secretary of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs for Immigration and Emigration Consuelo Rumí Ibáñez

2004-07 Subsecretary of Economy and Finance Juana María Lázaro Ruiz

2004-07 Subsecretary of Justice Ana María de Miguel Langa

2004-06 Subsecretary of Interior Soledad López Fernández
2006-08 Secretary of State of Defence

2004-08 Subsecretary of Development María Encarnación Vivancos Bustos
Director-General and President of Aena, Spanish Airports and Air Navigation.

2004-08 Subsecretary of Industry, Tourism and Commerce María Teresa Gómez Condado
2008- Secretary of State of Labour and Immigration

2004- Subsecretary of Labour and Social Affairs Aurora Domíguez González

2004-07 Subsecretary of Public Administration Maria Dolores Carrión Martín

2004-08 Subsecretary of Environment Concepción Toquero Plaza

2006-09 Minister of Education Mercedes Cabrera Calvo-Sotelo
2006-08 Minister of Science
2008-09 Minister of Social Affairs and Sports
Socialist MP from 2004. (b.1951-).

 

2006-09 Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs for Ibero-American Affairs Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera
2009- Minister of Health and Social Policies
Former Party Official and Government Advisor, Socialist Candidate for Mayor of Madrid in 2003. (b. 1962-)

2007-08 Minister of Housing Carme Chacón i Piqueras
2008- Minister of Defence
First Vice-President of the Congess 2004-07. At the time of her appointment as Defence-Minister in April 2008 she was 5 months pregnant. (b. 1971-).
 
2008- Minister of Housing Beatriz Corredor Sierra
Municipal Councillor in Madrid from 2007.(b. 1968-)
 
2008- Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Cristina Garmendia Méndizabal
Scientist. (b. 1962-).
 
2008- Minister of Equality Bibiana Aído Almagro Almagro
Civil Servant. (b. 1977-).

 

2008- Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs for International Co-operation Soraya Rodriguez Ramos
 
2008- Secretary of State of Infrastructures Josefina Cruz Villalón.
 
2008- Secretary of State of Education Eva Almunia Badía
 
2008- Secretary of State of Communication in the Ministry of the Presidency Nieves Goicoechea González
 
2008- Secretary of State of Public Administration Mercedes Elvira del Palacio Tascón
 
2008- Subsecretary of Education, Social Politics and Sport Mercedes López Revilla
  
2009- Minister of Culture Ángeles González-Sinde
Film director. (b. 1965-)

 

 

 

Last update 08.06.09