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Photos: Spain’s historic women-dominated cabinet takes office

Spain’s new socialist government, headed by Pedro Sanchez, who ousted conservative veteran Mariano Rajoy as Prime Minster in a no-confidence vote last Friday was sworn in on June 07. Of the 17 new ministers, a record 11 are women and their portfolios include the key economy, finance, justice, labour, education and health ministries. On the streets the cabinet has drawn mixed reactions from some citing an image-play, despite solid qualifications. Others feel that the new cabinet looks more poised towards dialogue than the ousted govenemnt.

Updated on: Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM IST

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The new Spanish government’s ministers pose with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (7L) and King Felipe VI (C) after taking oath at La Zarzuela palace in Madrid on June 7, 2018. King Felipe VI yesterday swore in Spain’s new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

The new Spanish government’s ministers pose with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (7L) and King Felipe VI (C) after taking oath at La Zarzuela palace in Madrid on June 7, 2018. King Felipe VI yesterday swore in Spain’s new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

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Demonstrators hold placards at the Puerta del Sol square during a one day strike to defend women’s rights on International Women's Day 2018 in Madrid. With nearly twice as many women as men in ministerial posts, the new socialist government has emerged from a strong feminist movement that permeates all areas of society and made itself felt in the unprecedented women’s strike earlier this year. (Oscar Del Pozo/ AFP File)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

Demonstrators hold placards at the Puerta del Sol square during a one day strike to defend women’s rights on International Women's Day 2018 in Madrid. With nearly twice as many women as men in ministerial posts, the new socialist government has emerged from a strong feminist movement that permeates all areas of society and made itself felt in the unprecedented women’s strike earlier this year. (Oscar Del Pozo/ AFP File)

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Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces his new cabinet at La Moncloa palace in Madrid on June 6. At almost 65%, Spain’s executive has the biggest proportion of women than any other country in Europe. Sanchez has also re-established the equality ministry, created in 2004 by the previous Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was beaten in 2011. (Javier Soriano / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces his new cabinet at La Moncloa palace in Madrid on June 6. At almost 65%, Spain’s executive has the biggest proportion of women than any other country in Europe. Sanchez has also re-established the equality ministry, created in 2004 by the previous Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was beaten in 2011. (Javier Soriano / AFP)

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Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

Minister of equality Carmen Calvo (L) and former Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria attend the portfolio handover ceremony on June 7. Calvo has also been given the high-profile role of deputy prime minister. That should give her more leeway to push policies in the areas of wage equality, women in leadership roles in big companies and against domestic violence. (Luca Piergiovanni / AFP)

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Maria Jesus Montero became budget minister after playing a similar role at a regional level in southern Andalusia. In the name of maintaining “stability,” Sanchez has also promised to implement the 2018 budget crafted by the previous conservative government. Among the budget’s key measures are a one to three percent rise in the lowest pensions and a salary increase for civil servants. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

Maria Jesus Montero became budget minister after playing a similar role at a regional level in southern Andalusia. In the name of maintaining “stability,” Sanchez has also promised to implement the 2018 budget crafted by the previous conservative government. Among the budget’s key measures are a one to three percent rise in the lowest pensions and a salary increase for civil servants. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

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While the appointment of Calvo as deputy prime minister continues something of a tradition in Spanish politics, The defence ministry has also regularly been headed by women in recent years. Former Supreme Court judge Margarita Robles is Sanchez’s new defence minister. (J. J. Soriano / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

While the appointment of Calvo as deputy prime minister continues something of a tradition in Spanish politics, The defence ministry has also regularly been headed by women in recent years. Former Supreme Court judge Margarita Robles is Sanchez’s new defence minister. (J. J. Soriano / AFP)

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The European Commission has welcomed the selection of Nadia Calviño (L), the European Commission’s director general for budgets, to head the ministry of economy and business. She is among several appointments designed to reassure Europe over the new administration in Madrid, which will rule with the smallest minority since Spain’s transition to democracy in 1978. (Javier Soriano / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

The European Commission has welcomed the selection of Nadia Calviño (L), the European Commission’s director general for budgets, to head the ministry of economy and business. She is among several appointments designed to reassure Europe over the new administration in Madrid, which will rule with the smallest minority since Spain’s transition to democracy in 1978. (Javier Soriano / AFP)

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The appointment of Josep Borrell (L), a former president of the European Parliament, as the minister of foreign affairs has also been lauded by Brussels. Borrell’s hardline stance against the Catalan independence movement has however aggravated the separatist government in Catalonia which had lent support to Sanchez. (Oscar Del Pozo / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

The appointment of Josep Borrell (L), a former president of the European Parliament, as the minister of foreign affairs has also been lauded by Brussels. Borrell’s hardline stance against the Catalan independence movement has however aggravated the separatist government in Catalonia which had lent support to Sanchez. (Oscar Del Pozo / AFP)

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On a day-to-day basis, Meritxell Batet, another Catalan, has been put in charge of relations with Spain’s regions as the minister of territorial administration. As such, she will have the prickly task of trying to ease the situation in her own deeply divided home region. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

On a day-to-day basis, Meritxell Batet, another Catalan, has been put in charge of relations with Spain’s regions as the minister of territorial administration. As such, she will have the prickly task of trying to ease the situation in her own deeply divided home region. (J. J. Soriano / Pool / AFP)

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Sanchez’s new team also includes a minister in charge of science, innovation and universities. And the man to take that role is Spain’s first astronaut Pedro Duque. (Sergio Perez / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 08, 2018 2:11 PM

Sanchez’s new team also includes a minister in charge of science, innovation and universities. And the man to take that role is Spain’s first astronaut Pedro Duque. (Sergio Perez / REUTERS)

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