Spain PM replaces two ministers ahead of vote

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a mini reshuffle of his cabinet on Monday, replacing two ministers who will stand in municipal elections in May.

The reshuffle comes as Sanchez’s leftist minority coalition government grapples with waning support ahead of the local polls and a general election expected at the end of the year.

The Socialist premier said Jose Manuel Minones Conde would replace Carolina Darias as health minister and Hector Gomez Hernandez will take over from Maria Reyes Maroto as industry minister.

Darias, who oversaw Spain’s successful Covid-19 vaccine campaign, is stepping down to run for mayor of Las Palmas on Spain’s Canary Islands in the May 28 municipal and regional elections.

Reyes Maroto, meanwhile, will be the Socialists’ candidate for mayor in Madrid in the polls.

“With these nominations, the government will face the home stretch of the legislature,” Sanchez said during a televised address.

Most polls tip the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) to win the next general election, but would need the support of far-right party Vox to govern.

Sanchez has governed Spain since June 2018 after ousting former PP prime minister Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence vote.

Since January 2020 his Socialist party has ruled in a coalition with far-left party Podemos.

Sanchez urged Spaniards to “renew their confidence” in the left with their vote, arguing Spain needs “a decade of progressive government” to undo the damage done by the PP when it last governed between 2011 and 2018.

“We have a long road ahead of social improvements, economic changes, environmental challenges and feminist advances,” Sanchez said.

But PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo told journalists the government is “very worn out”, adding Spain is “headed for a political change” in the upcoming general election.