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Minister of the Presidency

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Minister of the Presidency
Coat of arms of Spain
Standard used by government officials
since 12 July 2021
Ministry of the Presidency
StyleThe Most Excellent (formal)
Mr. Minister (informal)
Member ofCouncil of Ministers
National Security Council
General Commission of Secretaries of State and Undersecretaries
NominatorThe Prime Minister
Appointer
Term length
  • No fixed term
PrecursorUnder-Secretary of the Presidency
FormationJuly 19, 1951; 75 years ago (1951-07-19)
First holderLuis Carrero Blanco
Minister-Under Secretary
Websitewww.mpr.gob.es

The minister of the presidency, previously the minister-under secretary of the presidency, is a member of the Spanish Council of Ministers and the head of the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes. As the closest minister to the prime minister, they are responsible for supporting the head of government, preparing the government's legislative programme and ensuring its implementation, authorizing the use of national symbols, and attending the government's collegial bodies. Furthermore, the minister also has assigned powers in matters of justice, as well as the exercise of the right to freedom of religion.[1]

The presidency minister is appointed by the monarch, on the advice of the prime minister. Since July 2021, Félix Bolaños, from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, has served as minister of the presidency, justice and relations with the Cortes.[2]

Secretary of the Council of Ministers

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Currently, in addition to the general functions of supporting and assisting the Government and its head, specifically, according to Article 18.1 of the 1997 Government Law, the Minister of the Presidency is responsible for serving as Secretary of the Council of Ministers.[3] This function has been performed by the presidency minister since the approval of the Decree-Law of 19 July 1951, which reorganized the Central State Administration, until the present day, with the exception of the period between 1967 and 1973, when the Minister of Information and Tourism acted as Secretary of the Council, as it was considered at that time that the position of Deputy Prime Minister—which was then held by presidency minister Luis Carrero Blanco—was incompatible with that of Secretary of the Council.[4]

As secretary of the Council of Ministers, the minister is responsible for taking minutes of the Council meetings and for keeping and safeguarding them. The Minister-Secretary si assisted by the Government Secretariat.[3]

Likewise, Royal Decree 181/2008, of February 8, on the organization of the official journal "Boletín Oficial del Estado" establishes that the Secretary of the Council is the official authorized to order the publication in the gazette of the royal decree-laws, and only these, since the order of publication of laws corresponds to the Monarch[a] and, the rest of the provisions and acts, to the senior officials or authorities who hold the representation of the body or department that issues them.[5]

Finally, the Minister of the Presidency chairs the meetings of the General Commission of Secretaries of State and Undersecretaries, the body responsible for preparing for the Council of Ministers meetings, unless this responsibility is assigned to a Deputy Prime Minister. As of 2026, this responsibility belonges to the minister.[6]

History

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The position was established on 19 July 1951 by Francisco Franco, who granted the then Under-Secretary of the Presidency, Luis Carrero Blanco, the rank of minister, making him Minister-Under Secretary of the Presidency.[7] Carrero Blanco held the position until June 1973 when, after separating the positions of prime minister and head of state, the dictator appointed him prime minister.[8]

During the premiership of The Marquess of Arias Navarro, the Law 1/1974, of January 2, came into force, which divided the position of Minister-Undersecretary into two: the Minister of the Presidency and the Under-Secretary of the Presidency, a subordinate.[9]

Since then, the trend has continued for the Minister of the Presidency to be a close associate or confidant of the Prime Minister, as this person serves as the prime minister's principal assistant and the one through whom the prime minister coordinates the various ministerial departments. This is why, since Carrero Blanco held the position between 1967 and 1973, many other Ministers of the Presidency have also served as Deputy Prime Minister, such as Alfonso Osorio (1976–1977, Second Deputy Prime Minister), Francisco Álvarez-Cascos (1996–2000), Mariano Rajoy (2000–2001 and 2002–2003), Javier Arenas (2003–2004, as Second Deputy Prime Minister), María Teresa Fernández de la Vega (2004–2010), Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría (2011–2018), and Carmen Calvo (2018–2021).

List of ministers

[edit]
Name Start End Duration Party Government Ref.
Luis Carrero Blanco
(1904–1973)		 19 July 1951 8 June 1973 21 years, 324 days National Movement Franco IV
Francisco Franco

(1939–1975)		 [7]
Franco V
Franco VI
Franco VII
Franco VIII
José María Gamazo
(1929–2015)		 11 June 1973 3 January 1974 206 days National Movement Luis Carrero Blanco† [10]
The Duke of Fernández-Miranda
(acting)
The Marquess of Arias Navarro
Antonio Carro Martínez
(1923–2020)		 3 January 1974 11 December 1975 1 year, 342 days National Movement [11]

Juan Carlos I

(1975–2014)
Alfonso Osorio
(1923–2018)		 11 December 1975 4 July 1977 1 year, 205 days National Movement [12]
Centrist The Duke of Suárez
José Manuel Otero
(born 1940)		 4 July 1977 5 April 1979 1 year, 275 days Centrist [13]
José Pedro Pérez-Llorca
(1940–2019)		 5 April 1979 2 May 1980 1 year, 27 days Centrist [14]
Rafael Arias-Salgado
(born 1942)		 2 May 1980 26 February 1981 300 days Centrist [15]
Pío Cabanillas Gallas
(1923–1991)		 26 February 1981 31 August 1981 186 days Centrist The Marquess of Ría de Ribadeo [16]
Matías Rodríguez Inciarte
(born 1948)		 31 August 1981 2 December 1982 1 year, 93 days Centrist [17]
Javier Moscoso
(1934–2025)		 2 December 1982 25 July 1986 3 years, 235 days Socialist Felipe González [18]
Virgilio Zapatero
(born 1946)		 25 July 1986 13 July 1993 6 years, 353 days Socialist [19]
Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba
(1951–2019)		 13 July 1993 5 May 1996 2 years, 297 days Socialist [20]
Francisco Álvarez-Cascos
(born 1947)		 5 May 1996 28 April 2000 3 years, 359 days Popular José María Aznar [21]
Mariano Rajoy
(born 1955)		 28 April 2000 28 February 2001 306 days Popular [22]
Juan José Lucas
(born 1944)		 28 February 2001 10 July 2002 1 year, 132 days Popular [23]
Mariano Rajoy
(1955–)		 10 July 2002 4 September 2003 1 year, 56 days Popular [24]
Javier Arenas
(born 1957)		 4 September 2003 18 April 2004 227 days Popular [25]
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega
(born 1949)		 18 April 2004 21 October 2010 6 years, 186 days Socialist José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero [26]
Ramón Jáuregui
(born 1948)		 21 October 2010 22 December 2011 1 year, 62 days Socialist [27]
Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría
(born 1971)		 22 December 2011 7 June 2018 6 years, 167 days Popular Mariano Rajoy [28]

Felipe VI

(2014-present)
Carmen Calvo
(born 1957)		 7 June 2018 12 July 2021 3 years, 35 days Socialist Pedro Sánchez [29]
Félix Bolaños
(born 1975)		 12 July 2021 Incumbent 5 years, 92 days Socialist [30]

Timeline

[edit]
Félix BolañosCarmen CalvoSoraya Sáenz de SantamaríaRamón JáureguiMaría Teresa Fernández de la VegaFrancisco Javier Arenas BocanegraMariano RajoyJuan José LucasMariano RajoyFrancisco Álvares-CascosAlfredo Pérez RubalcabaVirgilio ZapateroJavier MoscosoMatías Rodríguez InciartePío CabanillasRafael Arias-SalgadoJose Pedro Pérez-LorcaJosé Manuel OteroAlfonso OsorioAntonio Carro MartínezJosé María GamazoLuis Carrero Blanco

References

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  1. ↑ Ministerio para la Transformación Digital y de la Función Pública (February 28, 2024), Real Decreto 204/2024, de 27 de febrero, por el que se desarrolla la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de la Presidencia, Justicia y Relaciones con las Cortes, y se modifica el Real Decreto 1012/2022, de 5 de diciembre, por el que se establece la estructura orgánica de la Abogacía General del Estado, se regula la inspección de los servicios en su ámbito y se dictan normas sobre su personal (in Spanish), pp. 23339–23373, retrieved May 25, 2026
  2. ↑ ""Amoroso" traspaso entre Calvo y Bolaños: "El presidente deja el Ministerio en las mejores manos"". RTVE.es (in Spanish). July 12, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Royal Household (November 18, 1997). "Ley 50/1997, de 27 de noviembre, del Gobierno". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  4. ↑ Office of the Head of State (October 7, 1967). "Orden de 5 de octubre de 1967 por la que se delegan en el Ministro de Información y Turismo las funciones de Secretario del Consejo de Ministros y de las Comisiones Delegadas del Gobierno" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 13746. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  5. ↑ Ministry of the Presidency (February 12, 2008). "Real Decreto 181/2008, de 8 de febrero, de ordenación del diario oficial «Boletín Oficial del Estado»". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  6. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (November 21, 2023). "Real Decreto 830/2023, de 20 de noviembre, sobre las Vicepresidencias del Gobierno". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Office of the Head of State (July 20, 1951). "Decrees of July 1951 appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 3448. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Álvarez, Ramón (December 15, 2023). "Carrero Blanco y el 'audaz' movimiento para perpetuar el franquismo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  9. ↑ Office of the Head of State (January 4, 1974). "Ley 1/1974, de 2 de enero, de Reorganización Administrativa". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). pp. 171–172. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  10. ↑ Office of the Head of State (June 12, 1973). "Decree 1159/1973, of June 11, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 11883. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  11. ↑ Office of the Head of State (January 4, 1974). "Decree 2/1974, of February 3, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 179. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  12. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (December 12, 1975). "Royal Decree 3237/1975, of December 11, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 25861. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (July 5, 1977). "Royal Decree 1563/1977, of July 4, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  14. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (April 6, 1979). "Royal Decree 711/1979, of April 5, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (May 3, 1980). "Royal Decree 792/1980, of May 2, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 9564. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  16. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (February 27, 1981). "Royal Decree 256/1981, of February 26, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 4430. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (September 1, 1981). "Royal Decree 256/1981, of February 26, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 20077. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (December 3, 1982). "Royal Decree 3295/1982, of December 2, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  19. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (July 26, 1986). "Royal Decree 1521/1986, of July 25, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 26707. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  20. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (July 14, 1993). "Royal Decree 1175/1993, of July 13, appointing government ministers" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). p. 21211. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ Office of the Prime Minister (May 6, 1996). "Royal Decree 762/1996, of May 5, appointing government ministers". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ Efe (April 29, 2000). "La mayoría de ministros opta por la fórmula de jurar su cargo". Ultima Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Rajoy y Lucas juran sus nuevos cargos ante los Reyes". www.elmundo.es (in Spanish). March 1, 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Los nuevos ministros de Aznar juran sus cargos ante el Rey en La Zarzuela". El País (in Spanish). July 10, 2002. ISSN 1134-6582. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Los nuevos ministros toman posesión de sus cargos". El País (in Spanish). September 4, 2003. ISSN 1134-6582. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Los nuevos ministros prometen sus cargos". El País (in Spanish). April 18, 2004. ISSN 1134-6582. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  27. ↑ HERNANZ, MIRIAM (October 21, 2010). "Jáuregui, en su toma de posesión: "Con dos lecciones magistrales de Alfredo, me pongo al día"". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Los 13 ministros de Rajoy juran sus cargos | 5". www.rtve.es (in Spanish). December 22, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ "La toma de posesión de los nuevos ministros del Gobierno de Pedro Sánchez, en imágenes". El País (in Spanish). June 7, 2018. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Bolaños asume el Ministerio de Presidencia porque "estas cosas ni se pueden pedir ni se pueden rechazar" | Líder en Información Social | Servimedia". www.servimedia.es (in Spanish). July 12, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2026.

Notes

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  1. ↑ Article 91 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution
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