View source for Prime Minister of Spain

{{Short description|Head of government of Spain}}
{{About||a list|List of prime ministers of Spain|the head of state during Second Spanish Republic|President of the Republic (Spain)}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Prime Minister of Spain
| native_name = Presidente del Gobierno de España
| image = Obisk španskega predsednika vlade v Sloveniji (53658605930) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 210px
| insignia = Escudo de España (variant).svg
| insigniasize = 100px
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of Spain]]
| incumbent = [[Pedro Sánchez]]
| incumbentsince = 2 June 2018
| type = [[Head of government]]
| department = [[Government of Spain]]<br />[[Prime Minister's Office (Spain)|Office of the Prime Minister]]
| style = [[The Most Excellent]]
| member_of = {{ubl|[[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]]|[[National Security Council (Spain)|National Security Council]]|[[European Council]]}}
| reports_to = [[Monarchy of Spain|Monarch]]<br/>{{Lang|es|[[Cortes Generales]]|italic=no}}
| residence = [[Palace of Moncloa]]
| seat = [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of Spain|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = with approval of the [[Congress of Deputies]]
| termlength = Not fixed, based on the officeholder's ability to command parliamentary confidence{{efn|The cabinet is dismissed en masse after a general election. Their term of office is four years, which can be terminated earlier. No limits are imposed on the number of terms or tenures the prime minister may hold.}}
| deputy = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| salary = €{{round|90010|-3}} per annum<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2022/10/06/economia/1665063806_114384.html|title=Pedro Sánchez ganará 90.010 euros, 5.410 euros más que las tres vicepresidentas|author=Carlos Molina|date=7 October 2022|newspaper=[[El País]] |access-date=29 November 2022|language=es |issn= |publisher=[[Prisa]]}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|lamoncloa.gob.es}}
| body = 
}}
{{Politics of Spain}}
The '''prime minister of Spain''', officially the '''president of the Government'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/biografia/Paginas/index.aspx|title = La Moncloa. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of the Government of Spain &#91;President/Biography&#93;}}</ref> ({{langx|es|link=no|Presidente del Gobierno}}), is the [[head of government]] of [[Spain]]. The prime minister nominates the [[Spanish government departments|ministers]] and chairs the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]]. In this sense, the prime minister establishes the [[Government of Spain|Government]] policies and coordinates the actions of the Cabinet members. As chief executive, the prime minister also advises the [[Monarchy of Spain|monarch]] on the exercise of their [[royal prerogative]]s.

Although it is not possible to determine when the position actually originated, the office of prime minister evolved throughout history to what it is today. The role of prime minister (then called Secretary of State) as president of the Council of Ministers, first appears in a royal decree of 1824 by King [[Ferdinand VII of Spain|Ferdinand VII]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Escudero López |first=José Antonio |year=1972 |title=The creation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers |url=https://revistas.mjusticia.gob.es/index.php/AHDE/article/view/4515/4515 |journal=History of Spanish Law Yearbook |language=es |volume=XLII |pages=757–767}}</ref> The current office was established during the [[reign of Juan Carlos I]], in the [[Constitution of Spain|1978 Constitution]], which describes the prime minister's constitutional role and powers, how the prime minister accedes to, and is removed from office, and the relationship between the prime minister and Parliament.

Upon a vacancy, the monarch nominates a candidate for a vote of confidence by the [[Congress of Deputies]], the lower house of the {{Lang|es|[[Cortes Generales]]|italic=no}}. The process is a parliamentary [[investiture]] by which the head of government is elected by the Congress of Deputies. In practice, the prime minister is almost always the leader of the largest party in the Congress, although not necessarily. The prime minister's official residence and office is [[Moncloa Palace]] in Madrid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez |first=Jesús |date=2018-04-20 |title=Moncloa Confidential: A peek inside the Spanish PM's seat of power |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2018/04/17/inenglish/1523960960_848141.html |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en}}</ref>

[[Pedro Sánchez]], of the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE), has been prime minister since 2 June 2018. He first came to power after a successful [[2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy|motion of no confidence]] against former prime minister [[Mariano Rajoy]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=2018-06-02 |title=Pedro Sánchez sworn in as Spain's prime minister after no-confidence vote |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/02/pedro-sanchez-sworn-in-spain-prime-minister-socialist-psoe |access-date=2023-12-03 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> Since then, Sánchez has led three governments, the most—along with [[Adolfo Suárez]]—just behind fellow socialist [[Felipe González]], prime minister from 1982 to 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2023-11-18 |title=Tres investiduras, dos elecciones ganadas, dos mociones... las cifras de un Sánchez que ya amenaza los récords de Felipe González |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5191106/0/investiduras-elecciones-ganadas-mociones-superadas-cifras-pedro-sanchez-record-felipe-gonzalez/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias |language=es}}</ref> King [[Felipe VI]] re-appointed Sánchez for the third time on 17 November 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=R |first=J. A. |date=2023-11-17 |title=Pedro Sánchez promete ante el Rey su tercer mandato como presidente del Gobierno |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-11-17/pedro-sanchez-promete-ante-el-rey-su-tercer-mandato.html |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref> after he reached a [[2023 Spanish government formation|coalition agreement]] with [[Sumar (electoral platform)|''Sumar'']] and gathered the support of other minor parties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=Spain's parliament confirms Pedro Sánchez as prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/pedro-sanchez-confirmed-spain-prime-minister/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> His [[Third government of Pedro Sánchez|third government]] took office on 21 November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CABALLERO |first=ÁLVARO |date=2023-11-21 |title=El Gobierno echa a andar con la toma de posesión de los ministros |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20231121/ministros-posesion-cargos-rey/2461435.shtml |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref>

==Official title==
The Spanish head of government has been known, since 1939, as "President of the Government" ({{Langx|es|Presidente del Gobierno}}).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=The Oxford Spanish Dictionary and Grammar |first=C. |last=Lea |edition=2nd |year=2001}}</ref>

Not only is this term confusing for English speakers because Spain is not a republic, but because the parliamentary speakers are also referred to as presidents of their respective chambers. For example, both President [[George W. Bush]] and his brother, Florida governor [[Jeb Bush]], referred to [[José María Aznar]] as "president" on separate occasions,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010612-6.html |title=Joint Press Conference with President George W. Bush and President Jose Maria Aznar |work=[[The White House]] |access-date=2 October 2013 |author=Office of the Press Secretary |author-link=Office of the Press Secretary (United States) |date=12 June 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jeb Bush agradece el apoyo "del presidente de la República española" |trans-title=Jeb Bush thanks the "President of the Spanish Republic" for his support |url=http://elpais.com/diario/2003/02/18/espana/1045522807_850215.html |access-date=14 July 2016 |newspaper=[[El País]] |date=18 February 2003 |language=es |location=Madrid |publisher=[[Prisa]]}}</ref> and [[Donald Trump]] referred to [[Mariano Rajoy]] both as "President" and "Mr. President" during Rajoy's 2017 White House visit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump repeatedly called the prime minister of Spain 'president,' and everyone is confused |url=http://mashable.com/2017/09/26/donald-trump-spain-prime-minister/ |work=[[Mashable]] |access-date=10 October 2017 |date=26 September 2017 |first=Nicole |last=Gallucci |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, LLC]]}}</ref> While this term of address was not incorrect, it could be misleading to English speakers so [[wikt:prime minister|prime minister]] is commonly used as a culturally equivalent term to ensure clarity.

Use of the term "president" dates back to 1834 and the regency of [[Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies|Maria Christina]] when, styled after the [[President of the Council (France)|head of government]] of the [[July Monarchy|French July Monarchy]] (1830), the official title was the "President of the Council of Ministers" ({{lang|es|Presidente del Consejo de Ministros}}). This remained until 1939, when the [[Second Spanish Republic]] ended. Before 1834 the figure was known as "[[Secretary of State (Ancient Regime in Spain)|Secretary of State]]" ({{lang|es|Secretario de Estado}}), a denomination used today for [[junior minister]]s.

Spain was not unique in this regard: it was one of several European parliamentary systems, including [[President of the Council (France)|France]], [[Council of Ministers (Italy)|Italy]] and the [[President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State|Irish Free State]], that styled the head of government as 'presidents' of the government rather than the Westminster term of 'prime minister' (see [[President of the Council of Ministers|President of the Council]] for the full list of corresponding terms). However the term '[[wikt:president|president]]' is far older.

==Origin==
{{Main|Secretary of State (Ancient Regime in Spain)}}
Since the 15th century, the Spanish monarchs have delegated their executive powers to important personages including [[favourite]]s ({{langx|es|validos}}) and  [[Secretary of State (Ancient Regime in Spain)|secretaries of state]]. The ''validos'', which existed since the early 15th century to the late 17th century, were people in which the monarch had the highest confidence and they exercised the Crown's power in the monarch's name.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Escudero López |first=José Antonio |title=Privados, validos y primeros ministros en la monarquía española de Antiguo Régimen |publisher=Anales de la Real Academia de Jurisprudencia y Legislación |year=2009 |isbn=978-84-9849-817-2 |edition=39th |location=Madrid |pages=321–331 |language=es}}</ref> Since the 18th century, the ''validos'' disappeared and the secretaries of state were introduced. Both positions were ''de facto'' prime ministers (as demonstrated by the fact that since the tenure of the [[count-duke of Olivares]], ''valido'' of [[Felipe IV]], the ''validos'' were often called by courtiers and authors already in the 17th century as "principal minister or prime minister of Spain"<ref name=":0" />) although they can not be completely compared.

On 19 November 1823, after a brief liberal democratic period called the [[Trienio Liberal|Liberal Triennium]] between 1820 and 1823, [[King Ferdinand VII]] re-established the absolute monarchy and created the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]] that continues to exist today.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Fontana |first=Josep |title=Treasury and State, 1823-1833 |publisher=Institute of Fiscal Studies |year=1973 |isbn=9788480080842 |location=Madrid |pages=88 |language=Spanish}}</ref> This council, when not chaired by the monarch, was chaired by the secretary of state for foreign affairs ({{Langx|es|Secretario de Estado y del Despacho de Estado}}), who acted as prime minister.<ref name=":1" /> This role was ratified by the [[Spanish Royal Statute of 1834|Royal Statute of 1834]], which constitutionalized for the first time the figure of the prime minister under the name of "President of the Council of Ministers", invested with executive powers.

During the 19th century, the position changed names frequently. After the [[Glorious Revolution (Spain)|Glorious Revolution of 1868]], it was renamed ''President of the Provisional Revolutionary Joint'' and later ''President of the Provisional Government''. In 1869, the office resumed the name of ''President of the Council of Ministers''. Following the abdication of [[Amadeo I of Spain|King Amadeus I]], during the [[First Spanish Republic|First Republic]] (1873–1874) the office was known as the ''President of the Executive Power'' and was also [[head of state]]. In 1874, the office name reverted to ''President of the Council of Ministers''.

Since its inception, the prime minister has been appointed and dismissed by the will of the monarch. Successive constitutions have confirmed this royal prerogative of the monarch in the [[Spanish Constitution of 1837|Constitution of 1837]] (article 47),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1837#TITULO_VI_-_DEL_REY|title=Constitución española de 1837|website=es.wikisource.org|language=es|access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref> article 46 of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1845|Constitution of 1845]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dircost.unito.it/cs/pdf/spagna_constitucion_1845_esp.pdf|title=Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy of 1845|date=1845|language=Spanish}}</ref> the [[Spanish Constitution of 1869|Constitution of 1869]] (article 68),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dircost.unito.it/cs/pdf/spagna_constitucion_1869_esp.pdf|title=Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy of 1869|date=1869|language=Spanish}}</ref> and the [[Spanish Constitution of 1876|Constitution of 1876]] (article 54).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dircost.unito.it/cs/docs/CONST%201876.htm|title=Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy of 1876|date=1876|language=Spanish}}</ref>

With the fall of the First Republic and the restoration of the [[House of Bourbon (Spain)|Bourbon dynasty]] on King [[Alfonso XII]], the office maintained its original name until the [[dictatorship of Primo de Rivera]], when it was renamed to ''President of the Military Directory''. In 1925, the original name was restored again.[[File:Adolfo_Suárez,_durante_su_discurso_de_investidura_en_el_Congreso_de_los_Diputados.jpg|thumb|[[Adolfo Suárez]] delivers his inaugural address to the [[Congress of Deputies]] at the [[Palacio de las Cortes, Madrid]] on March 30, 1979.|left]]The [[Spanish Constitution of 1931|Republican Constitution of 1931]] provided for the prime minister and the rest of the government to be appointed and dismissed by the [[President of the Republic (Spain)|President of the Republic]] but they were responsible before the Parliament and the Parliament could vote to dismiss the prime minister or a minister even against the will of the president of the republic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/123469543/Constitution-of-the-Republic-of-Spain-1931|title=Spanish Constitution of 1931|website=scribd|language=en|access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref> In the [[Spanish Civil War|Civil War]], the head of government among the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Nationalists]] was called ''Chief of the Government of the State'' and since January 1938 the office acquired the current name, ''President of the Government,'' but between that date and 1973 the office was held by [[Francisco Franco]] as dictator of Spain.

In 1973, [[Francisco Franco]] separated the head of state from the head of government, and that division still exists today, with the prime minister democratically elected by the [[Cortes Generales|Parliament]] which is itself elected by universal suffrage, free and equal. [[Adolfo Suárez]] was the first democratically elected prime minister of the post-Franco government. He was originally appointed by King [[Juan Carlos I]] on 3 July 1976, and he was confirmed in the office by popular vote after the [[1977 Spanish general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1977-06-17 |title=Spain's Election Victor |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/17/archives/spains-election-victor-adolfo-su-rez-gonz-lez.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Royal nomination and congressional confirmation==
Once a [[Elections in Spain|general election]] has been called by the [[Monarchy of Spain|monarch]], political parties designate their candidates to stand for prime minister—usually the party leader. A prime minister is dismissed from office the day after the election, but remains in office as a caretaker until his/her successor is sworn in.
[[File:Congreso de los Diputados de la XV Legislatura de España.svg|left|thumb|250x250px|The [[Congress of Deputies]] after the [[Elections in Spain|general election]] in July 2023, conforming the [[15th Congress of Deputies|15th Parliament]] after the restoration of democracy in 1977.]]
Following the general election and other circumstances provided for in the Constitution, the sovereign meets with the leaders of the [[List of political parties in Spain|parties]] represented in the Congress of Deputies, and then consults with the [[Speaker of the Congress of Deputies]] ({{langx|es|Presidente de Congreso de los Diputados}}) as representative of the whole of parliament), before nominating a candidate for the prime ministership. This process is spelled out in Section 99 of the Constitution.<ref name="Part IV">[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978_(annotated)/Part_IV Spanish Constitution, 1978, Part IV Government and Administration]</ref>

[[File:Palacio de la Moncloa, Madrid, España edited.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Palace of Moncloa]] is the official residence and workplace of the prime minister.]]

By [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|political custom]] established by [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]] since the ratification of the 1978 Constitution, the sovereign's nominees have usually been from parties who have a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]] of seats in the Congress (i.e. the largest party). Although there is no legal requirement for this, it is seen as a royal endorsement of the democratic process—a fundamental concept enshrined in the 1978 Constitution. The largest party can end up not ruling if rival parties form a [[coalition]]—as happened in 2018 with the election of PSOE leader [[Pedro Sánchez]]. More commonly, if neither of the two major parties ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] or [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]]) are able to command an absolute majority of the Congress by themselves, one will rule as a minority by adopting some aspects of the minor party platforms in an effort to attract them into parliamentary agreements to vote in the major party's favour, or at least abstain.

The monarch's order nominating a prime ministerial candidate is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress, who then presents the nominee before the Congress of Deputies in a process known as a ''[[Investiture|parliamentary investiture]]'' (''Investidura parlamentaria''). During the investiture proceedings, the candidate describes their [[manifesto|political agenda]] in an ''Investiture Speech'' to be debated and submitted for a [[vote of confidence]] (''Cuestión de confianza'') by the Congress, effecting an [[indirect election]] of the head of government.<ref name="Part IV" /><ref name="08 April 2008 Investiture Speech">[http://www.la-moncloa.es/IDIOMAS/9/Presidente/Discursodeinvestidura/Introduction.htm Speech by Zapatero at the session for his investiture as Prime Minister]</ref>

Confidence is awarded if the candidate receives a majority of votes in the first poll (currently 176 out of 350 MPs), but if the confidence is not granted, a second vote is scheduled forty-eight hours later in which a simple majority of votes cast (i.e.,&nbsp;more "yes" than "no" votes) is required.<ref name="Part IV" /> Following the second vote, if confidence by the Congress is still not reached, then the monarch again meets with political leaders and the Speaker, and submits a new nominee for a vote of confidence (exceptionally, in 2016 King [[Felipe VI]] opted for not nominating more candidates and call for new elections<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alberola |first=Miquel |date=2016-04-27 |title=El Rey no propone a ningún candidato y aboca a nuevas elecciones en junio |language=es |work=El País |url=https://elpais.com/politica/2016/04/26/actualidad/1461689973_619104.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>).<ref name="Part IV" /> If, within two months, no candidate has won the confidence of the Congress then the monarch dissolves the Cortes and calls for a new general election.<ref name="Part IV" /> The monarch's royal decree is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress.<ref name="Part IV" />

=== Oath of office ===
[[File:Zapatero prometiendo su cargo ante Juan Carlos I (2008).jpg|250px|thumb|[[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] taking the [[oath of office|affirmation of office]] for his [[2008 Spanish general election|second term]] in 2008 while placing his right hand on the Constitution instead of the Bible and Crucifix (being [[Irreligion|non-religious]])<ref name="zapatero_sworn_in">{{in lang|es}} Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM3AZ47GZ0w Rodríguez Zapatero is sworn into his second term] ([[RTVE]]'s [[24 Horas (Spanish TV channel)|Canal 24H]], 12 April 2008)</ref>]]
After the nominee is confirmed, the Speaker of the Congress formally reports the fact to the sovereign. The monarch then appoints the candidate as the new prime minister and this too is countersigned by the Speaker.<ref name="Part IV" />

During the swearing-in ceremony presided over by the monarch, customarily at the Audience Hall of the [[Palace of Zarzuela|Royal Palace of Zarzuela]], the [[prime minister–designate]] takes an [[oath of office]] over an open Constitution and—at choice since 2014<ref>{{Cite news |last1=EFE |last2=País |first2=El |date=2014-07-09 |title=Felipe VI cambia el protocolo y permite la jura del cargo sin Biblia ni crucifijo |language=es |work=El País |url=https://elpais.com/politica/2014/07/09/actualidad/1404932149_211008.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=1134-6582}}</ref>—next to a [[Bible]] and a [[crucifix]]. The prime minister must take the oath or affirmation placing the right hand on the Constitution. Currently, only one prime minister has refused to take the oath of office next to religious symbols: [[Pedro Sánchez]], along with most of his Cabinet members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2018/06/02/5b126154268e3e7e3e8b4615.html|title = Pedro Sánchez, presidente aconfesional: Promete su cargo ante el Rey sin Biblia ni crucifijo|date = 2 June 2018}}</ref> His predecessor, [[Mariano Rajoy]], a Catholic, put his right hand on the Constitution and, at the same time, his left hand on the Bible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DÍAS |first=CINCO |date=2016-10-31 |title=Rajoy jura el cargo de presidente ante Felipe VI |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2016/10/31/economia/1477907308_977765.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Cinco Días |language=es}}</ref> As per tradition, if the members of the government choose not to take the oath along with any religious symbols, they use the word "prometo" ("I promise"), whereas if the take the oath with the Bible, they use the word "juro" ("I swear"). The oath as taken by Prime Minister Zapatero on his first term in office on 17 April 2004 was:<ref name="zapatero_sworn_in" />

{{column
|1=
<poem>''Juro/Prometo, por mi conciencia y honor, cumplir fielmente las obligaciones del cargo de Presidente del Gobierno con lealtad al Rey, guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución como norma fundamental del Estado, así como mantener el secreto de las deliberaciones del Consejo de Ministros.''</poem>
|2=
<poem>I swear/promise, under my conscience and honor, to faithfully execute the duties of the office of Prime Minister with loyalty to the King, obey and enforce the [[Constitution of Spain|Constitution]] as the main law of the State, and preserve in secret the deliberations of the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]].</poem>
}}

Once appointed, the prime minister forms his government whose ministers are appointed and removed by the monarch on the prime minister's advice. In the political life of Spain, the monarch would already be familiar with the various political leaders in a professional capacity, and perhaps less formally in a more social capacity, facilitating their meeting following a general election. Conversely, nominating the party leader whose party maintains a plurality and who are already familiar with their party [[manifesto]] facilitates a smoother nomination process. In the event of [[Coalition government|coalitions]], the political leaders would customarily have met beforehand to hammer out a coalition agreement before their meeting with the Sovereign.

==Constitutional authority==
Title IV of the Constitution defines the [[Government of Spain|Government]] and its responsibilities.<ref name="Part IV"/> The Government consists of the prime minister and the ministers. The government conducts domestic and [[Foreign relations of Spain|foreign policy]], civil and military administration, and the [[Spanish Armed Forces|defense of the nation]] all in the name of the monarch on behalf of the people. Additionally, the government exercises executive authority and statutory regulations.<ref name="Part IV"/> The main collective decision-making body of the Government is the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]], chaired by the prime minister and, after a formal request by the Prime Minister, by the [[Monarchy of Spain|monarch]].
[[File:Zapatero Reforma de la Constitución Española 2011.jpg|left|thumb|Prime Minister Rodríguez Zapatero, countersigning the 2011 constitutional reform.]]
There is no provision in the Spanish Constitution for explicitly granting any [[emergency powers]] to the government. However, Section 56 of the Constitution vests the monarch as the "arbitrator and moderator of the institutions" of government, ''[The King] arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions'' (''arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones'').<ref>[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978_(annotated)/Part_II Spanish Constitution, 1978, Part II The Crown]</ref><ref name="Official website of the Royal Household">[http://www.casareal.es/laCorona/laCorona-iden-idweb.html The Royal Household of H.M. The King website]</ref> This provision could be understood as allowing the monarch or his government ministers to exercise emergency authority in times of national crisis, such as when the monarch used his authority to back the government of the day and call for the military to abandon the [[23-F]] coup attempt in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sinopsis artículo 62 - Constitución Española |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=62&tipo=2 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=app.congreso.es |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Polo |first=Raquel Pérez |date=2021-02-22 |title=Don Juan Carlos, la historia detrás del hombre que paró el golpe del 23-F |url=https://www.cope.es/actualidad/espana/noticias/asi-fue-golpe-estado-que-paro-rey-juan-carlos-papel-23f-20210222_1152112 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=COPE |language=es}}</ref>

The prime minister also assumes political responsibility for most acts of the sovereign. While the monarch is vested with executive power, his acts are not valid unless countersigned by a minister. Under Article 64 of the Constitution, that minister—usually the prime minister—assumes political responsibility for the act in question. In these sense, the Constitution grants the prime minister the initiative to request the monarch for calling a [[referendum]], for calling for new elections or for dissolving any of the legislative chambers. In Spain, the government ministers cannot force the prime minister resignation and this idea is reinforced when the Constitution grants the prime minister the sole initiative to request the Congress for a [[vote of confidence]]. In constitutional matters, the primacy of the prime minister over the ministers is also evident, since the prime ministers alone is responsible for the government initiative to [[Constitutional Court of Spain|challenge the constitutionality of a law]].

== Office of the Prime Minister ==
{{Main|Office of the Prime Minister (Spain)}}
{{See also|Secretary of State (Ancient Regime in Spain)}}
[[File:E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, 2016 (04), palacio Moncloa.jpg|thumb|250x250px|[[Palace of Moncloa|Moncloa Government Complex]] seen from the [[Technical University of Madrid|Polytechnic University of Madrid]].]]
The [[Office of the Prime Minister (Spain)|Office of the Prime Minister]] ({{Langx|es|Presidencia del Gobierno}}, {{Literal translation|Presidency of the Government}}) is composed of those government departments, services and staff that are at the service of the Prime Minister to fulfill its constitutional duties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Spanish Royal Academy]] |title=Definición de Presidencia del Gobierno - Diccionario panhispánico del español jurídico - RAE |url=https://dpej.rae.es/lema/presidencia-del-gobierno |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=www.dpej.rae.es |publisher=Pan-Hispanic Spanish Law Dictionary |language=es}}</ref> It was established around 1834 when officials and budget began to be assigned to the personal Secretariat of the Prime Minister. Today, it acts as a [[Spanish government departments|ministerial department]], although it is not formally one of them, and approximately 2,000 people work there.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-03 |title=Los funcionarios de La Moncloa exigen por escrito al Gobierno la cifra de contagios por Covid-19 en el complejo presidencial |url=https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/politica/trabajadores-moncloa-gobierno-contagios-presidencial_0_1342367048.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Vozpópuli |language=es}}</ref>

The Prime Minister's Office principal departments are:<ref name=":5">{{Citation |last=Office of the Prime Minister |title=Real Decreto 662/2022, de 29 de julio, por el que se reestructura la Presidencia del Gobierno |date=2022-08-01 |url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2022/07/29/662 |issue=Real Decreto 662/2022 |pages=110312–110323 |access-date=2023-11-19 |language=es}}</ref>

* The [[Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes]].
** The [[Secretary of State for Justice (Spain)|Secretariat of State for Justice]].
** The [[Secretary of State for Relations with the Cortes|Secretariat of State for Relations with the Cortes and Constitutional Affairs]].
** The [[Undersecretariat of the Presidency]].
** The [[Solicitor General of Spain|Office of the Solicitor Geneal]].
* The [[Cabinet Office (Spain)|Cabinet Office]], headed by the [[Moncloa Chief of Staff]].
** The Office of the Deputy Moncloa Chief of Staff.
** The General Secretariat of the Prime Minister's Office.
** The General Secretariat for National Policy.
** The General Secretariat for Foreign Affairs.
** The General Secretariat for Institutional Coordination.
** The [[Department of National Security (Spain)|Department of National Security]].
* The Office for Economic Affairs and G20, with the rank of secretariat of state.
* The [[Secretary of State for Press|Secretariat of State for Press]].

The autonomous agency [[Patrimonio Nacional]], which manages Crown properties, depends on this Office through the Ministry of the Presidency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Decreto 373/2020, de 18 de febrero, por el que se desarrolla la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de la Presidencia, Relaciones con las Cortes y Memoria Democrática. |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2020-2386 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.boe.es |language=es}}</ref>

=== Security and transport ===
[[File:Coat of Arms of the Spanish Head of Government Office Security Department.svg|thumb|162x162px|DSPG emblem.]]
The Cabinet Office, through the General Secretariat of the Prime Minister's Office, is responsible for protocol and security affairs.<ref name=":5" /> Within the General Secretariat, there is a Department of Security of the Presidency of the Government (DSPG) that coordinates the efforts of the [[National Police Corps (Spain)|National Police Corps]] and the [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] in the protection of the Prime Minister and his family, as well as the infraestructure and personnel of the [[Palace of Moncloa|Moncloa Government Complex]].<ref name=":5" />

The vehicles used by the Prime Minister are provided by the [[State Vehicle Fleet]] (PME), an [[List of agencies in Spain|autonomous agency]] of the [[Ministry of Finance (Spain)|Ministry of Finance]] that provides the government with all type of vehicles and well-trained drivers. The air transportation of the Prime Minister and other government officials is mainly provided by the [[45th Wing]] (planes) and the 402nd Air Force Squadron (helicopters).

== Resignation and dissolution of Parliament ==
The Parliament, and thus, the Government, sit for a term no longer than four years. Before that date, the prime minister may offer his resignation to the sovereign. If the Prime Minister does so while advising the monarch to dissolve parliament, the sovereign will call for a [[snap election]], but no sooner than a year after the prior general election.<ref>Snap elections have been used only threes since the 1978 Constitution was ratified, ex-PM [[Felipe González]] invoked his constitutional right to dissolve the [[Cortes Generales|Cortes]] three times in 1989, 1993, and 1996</ref> 
[[File:Mariano Rajoy felicita al nuevo presidente del Gobierno Pedro Sánchez (2018-06-01).jpg|thumb|Ousted prime minister [[Mariano Rajoy]] greeting prime minister–designated [[Pedro Sánchez]] after his successful [[2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy|vote of no confidence]].|250x250px]]
If a prime minister resigns without advising the monarch to call for new elections, dies or becomes incapacitated while in office, then the government as a whole resigns and the process of royal nomination and appointment takes place. The [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|deputy prime minister]], or in the absence of such office, the first minister by precedence, would then take over the day-to-day operations in the meantime as acting-prime minister, even while the deputy prime minister themselves may be nominated by the monarch and stand for a vote of confidence. Also, if at the conclusion of the four years, the prime minister has not asked for its dissolution, according to Title II Section&nbsp;56, the monarch must dissolve the Parliament and call for a new general election.<ref>Title&nbsp;II Section&nbsp;56 the monarch is the "arbitrator and moderator of the regular functioning of the institutions"</ref>

Although the prime minister's position is strengthened by constitutional limits on the Congress' right to withdraw confidence from the government, the Cortes Generales has two ways of forcing the prime minister's resignation: passing a [[Motions of no confidence in Spain|motion of no confidence]] or rejecting a motion of confidence. In the first case, and following the German model, a prime minister can only be removed by a [[constructive vote of no confidence]]. While the Congress can censure the government at any time, the censure motion must also include the name of a prospective replacement for the incumbent prime minister. If the censure motion is successful, the replacement candidate is automatically deemed to have the confidence of the Congress, and the monarch is required to appoint them as the new prime minister. As of 2023, only [[Pedro Sánchez]] managed to remove a sitting prime minister with a [[2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy|vote of no confidence in 2018]], making him prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maestro |first=Laura Smith-Spark,Laura Perez |date=2018-06-01 |title=Rajoy forced out as Spain's Prime Minister in confidence vote |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/01/europe/spain-rajoy-confidence-vote-sanchez-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-06-01 |title=Mariano Rajoy: Spanish PM forced out of office |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44327573 |access-date=2023-11-19}}</ref> In the second case, the prime minister, after deliberation by the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]], can propose a vote of confidence regarding the government's policies in Congress. If Congress does not give the prime minister its confidence, the prime minister must resign. As of 2023, only prime minister [[Adolfo Suárez]] in 1980 and [[Felipe González]] in 1990 proposed a vote of confidence, both successfully.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Así fueron las cuestiones de confianza y mociones de censura de la Democracia {{!}} España {{!}} elmundo.es |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/05/24/espana/1306235420.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.elmundo.es}}</ref>

== Precedence, privileges and form of address ==
[[File:Inauguración Tribunal Constitucional 1980 (1).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Adolfo Suárez]] (left), next to King [[Juan Carlos I]] as the second authority of the country in 1980.]]
The Prime Minister is the second authority of the Kingdom of Spain, outranking all other State authorities except members of the [[Spanish royal family|royal family]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office of the Prime Minister |title=General Order of Precedence in the State |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1983-21534 |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=www.boe.es |language=es}}</ref>

In 2025, the Prime Minister received a salary of €90,010 (€90,449 according to the [[Council for Transparency and Good Governance]]) and additional €13,892 as member of parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-06 |title=¿Cuánto cobra Pedro Sánchez como presidente del Gobierno en 2025? |url=https://www.larazon.es/espana/cuanto-cobra-pedro-sanchez-como-presidente-gobierno-2025_2025020667a47eeb797cbb0001429faf.html |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=La Razón |language=es}}</ref> With this salary, the prime minister is not the highest paid official of Spain, being surpassed by other State authorities such as the royal family<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-30 |title=Felipe VI congela su sueldo en 2025: cuánto cobran el Rey, Letizia y sus hijas |url=https://www.pronto.es/noticias-del-corazon/casas-reales/familia-real-espanola/reyes-espana-congelan-sueldo-esto-cobran-felipe-letizia-hijas-78380.html |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Pronto}}</ref> (the [[Felipe VI|King]], €277,362; the [[Queen Letizia of Spain|Queen]], €152,540; and the [[Queen Sofía of Spain|Queen Mother]], €124,815), the [[president of the Congress of Deputies]] (€230,931),<ref>{{Cite web |last=lainformacion.com |date=2022-10-03 |title=Cuánto cobrarán los diputados tras la subida del 3,5% de sus sueldos en 2023 |url=https://www.lainformacion.com/economia-negocios-y-finanzas/estos-seran-sueldos-diputados-2023/2874461/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=La Información |language=es}}</ref> the [[President of the Constitutional Court (Spain)|president of the Constitutional Court]] (€167,169),<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Hidalgo |first=Emilio Sánchez |date=2022-10-06 |title=Así son los sueldos de los altos cargos: 167.000 euros para el presidente del Constitucional y 90.000 para el del Gobierno |url=https://elpais.com/economia/2022-10-06/asi-son-los-sueldos-de-los-altos-cargos-167000-euros-para-el-presidente-del-constitucional-y-90000-para-el-del-gobierno.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref> the [[President of the Supreme Court (Spain)|president of the Supreme Court]] (€151,186)<ref name=":3" /> and the president of the [[Court of Auditors (Spain)|Court of Auditors]] (€130,772),<ref name=":3" /> among others.

The prime minister is constitutionally protected against ordinary prosecution. Although the Prime Minister does not have [[legal immunity]] like the monarch, the prime minister, as well as the members of the Royal Family, the Government, the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, can only be criminally responsible before the Criminal Chamber of the [[Supreme Court of Spain|Supreme Court]] ([https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229 Spanish Constitution, Part IV § 102]).

Although it is not formally regulated, Spanish custom establishes that the prime minister receives the treatment of [[The Most Excellent]] ({{Langx|es|Excelentísimo Señor, f. Excelentísima Señora}}). This treatment has been customary for the government ministers since, at least, the 18th century, and in the case of the prime minister, this treatment is reinforced as member of the [[Order of Charles III]], whose article 13 states that "the Knights and the Dames of the Collar, as well as the Knights and Dames Grand Cross, will receive the treatment of Most Excellent Lord and Most Excellent Lady".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Office of the Prime Minister |date=12 October 2002 |title=Real Decreto 1051/2002, de 11 de octubre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III. |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2002-19803 |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=www.boe.es |language=es}}</ref>

== Deputy ==
{{Main|Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|List of deputy prime ministers of Spain}}
{{See also|Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|Third Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|Fourth Deputy Prime Minister of Spain}}
[[File:Joaquín María de Ferrer y Cafranga.jpg|thumb|[[Joaquín María Ferrer y Cafranga]] was the first person to hold the office of deputy prime minister from October 1840 to May 1841.]]
The Spanish Constitution foresee the office of [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|deputy prime minister]] and also the possibility of having more than one deputy prime minister. Although the position of deputy prime minister has existed intermittently since 1840, the Constitution endorses what was established in the [[Organic Law of the State|Organic Act of the State]] of 1967,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office of the Head of State |title=Ley Orgánica del Estado, número 1/1967, de 10 de enero. |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1967-5 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.boe.es |language=es}}</ref> which provided for the first time the possibility of appointing more than one deputy and, in 1974, this provision became effective when prime minister [[Carlos Arias Navarro]] appointed three deputies ([[José García Hernández]], [[Antonio Barrera de Irimo]] and [[Licinio de la Fuente]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1976-07-02 |title=Gabinete Arias Navarro |language=es |work=El País |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1976/07/02/espana/205106414_850215.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |issn=1134-6582}}</ref> Since then, three more prime ministers ([[Adolfo Suárez]], [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] and [[Pedro Sánchez]]) have had more than one deputy.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Sánchez encabezará el gobierno de la democracia con más vicepresidencias |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-sanchez-encabezara-gobierno-democracia-mas-vicepresidencias-20200109151326.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=Europa Press}}</ref> The [[second government of Pedro Sánchez|second]] and [[Third government of Pedro Sánchez|third governments]] of Pedro Sánchez holds the record for most deputies, appointing four.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUTIÉRREZ |first=JAIME |date=2020-01-13 |title=El Gobierno de Pedro Sánchez será el segundo más numeroso de la democracia con 23 miembros |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20200113/gobierno-pedro-sanchez-sera-segundo-mas-numeroso-democracia-con-23-miembros/1995306.shtml |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> This large number of deputy prime ministerships was interpreted as a maneuver to reduce the political weight of his second deputy prime minister and leader of the minority party in the coalition, [[Pablo Iglesias Turrión]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sierra |first=Iolanda Mármol,Juan Ruiz |date=2020-01-09 |title=Sánchez resta peso a Iglesias al crear cuatro vicepresidencias |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200109/gobierno-cuatro-vicepresidencias-mujer-7799702 |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=elperiodico |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Pedro Sánchez diluye a Pablo Iglesias con tres vicepresidencias más |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2020/01/09/5e17030c21efa004698b4674.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2020-01-09 |title=Sánchez trata de diluir a Iglesias nombrando otras tres vicepresidentas |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4109772/0/sanchez-intenta-diluir-iglesias-tres-vicepresidentas/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias |language=es}}</ref>

=== Succession ===
According to article 101 of the Spanish Constitution, the prime minister and its government only ceases in the cases of resignation, a failed motion of confidence, a [[Motions of no confidence in Spain|motion of no confidence]] against the prime minister or the death of the prime minister. In the first three options, there is no succession, because the prime minister remains as [[caretaker prime minister]] until a new prime minister is elected by the Congress of Deputies.

If the Prime Minister dies, the 1997 Government Act provides that the Prime Minister be succeeded by the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|Deputy Prime Minister]] and, if there is more than one, by the Deputy Prime Ministers, depending on their order. If there is no deputy prime minister, the Government Act establishes that the prime minister will be replaced by the ministers, according to the [[Spanish order of precedence|order of precedence]] of the [[Spanish government departments|Departments]]. This means that the first in the line of succession after the deputy prime ministers would be the [[List of foreign ministers of Spain|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], followed by the [[Ministry of Justice (Spain)|Minister of Justice]], the [[List of ministers of defence (Spain)|Minister of Defense]] and the [[List of ministers of economy and the treasury of Spain|Minister of Finance]]. These four ministers are the first and great offices created in 1714 by [[Philip V of Spain|King Philip V]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=Doscientos años del Consejo de Ministros |url=https://www.larazon.es/cultura/doscientos-anos-consejo-ministros_20231120655ad97ef6ca7200012b33ed.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=La Razón |language=es}}</ref>

== Order of Charles III ==
{{Main|Order of Charles III}}
[[File:Juan Bravo Murillo.jpg|thumb|[[Juan Bravo Murillo]], prime minister from 1851 to 1852, with the sash and grand cross of the Order of Charles III (1877, by [[Manuel García Hispaleto]]).]]
The Order of Charles III, officially the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, was established in 1771 by King [[Charles III of Spain|Charles III]] and is today the country's highest civil honor. The current regulation of the order, established in October 2002, states that the prime minister is the Grand Chancellor of the Order (second to the Grand Master, the [[Monarchy of Spain|Monarch]]).<ref name=":2" />

Upon taking office, the new prime minister shall be invested with the degree of Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order and with this rank he will act as Grand Chancellor of the same.<ref name=":2" /> It is responsibility of the Grand Chancellor to submit to the approval of the [[Council of Ministers (Spain)|Council of Ministers]] royal decrees granting the degrees of Collar and Grand Cross, and all titles of the different degrees of the Royal Order must bear his signature and the monarch's.<ref name=":2" />

The last persons to join the order were [[Teresa Ribera]] and [[José Luis Escrivá]]; both received the Grand Cross for their services as government ministers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Europa |date=2025-03-19 |title=Comisión Europea.- El Gobierno distingue con la Gran Cruz de Carlos III a los exministros José Luis Escrivá y Teresa Ribera |url=https://www.europapress.es/eseuropa/noticia-comision-europea-gobierno-distingue-gran-cruz-carlos-iii-exministros-jose-luis-escriva-teresa-ribera-20250319084148.html |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref>

== Retirement honours and privileges ==
Upon retirement, it is customary for the monarch to grant a prime minister some honour or dignity. The honour bestowed is commonly the Collar of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]], the second highest civil honor, while the ministers receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (the highest civil distinction).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Confidencial |first=El |date=2011-12-30 |title=El Gobierno condecora a Zapatero con el Collar de la Orden de Isabel la Católica |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2011-12-30/el-gobierno-condecora-a-zapatero-con-el-collar-de-la-orden-de-isabel-la-catolica_241498/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-03 |title=El Gobierno condecora al Ejecutivo saliente con distinciones de la Orden de Isabel la Católica y la de Carlos III |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-gobierno-condecora-ejecutivo-saliente-distinciones-orden-isabel-catolica-carlos-iii-20180803164630.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=Europa Press}}</ref> This is because the prime minister is, since he is appointed as such by the sovereign, a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, for which he is awarded the next highest distinction.

In addition to these honors, the monarch might offer the former prime minister a [[Spanish nobility|peerage]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-02 |title=Un título nobiliario para los ex presidentes de Gobierno |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-titulo-nobiliario-para-presidentes-gobierno-200404020300-962759501756_noticia.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref> being the highest marks of distinction that he may bestow in his capacity as the ''[[Fount of honour|fons honorum]]'' in Spain. Conventionally, the ''Title of Concession'' creating the dignity must be countersigned by a government minister. When a title is created for a former prime minister, the succeeding prime minister customarily countersigns the royal decree.

Although prior to the [[reign of Alfonso XIII]] many noble titles were granted —or the rank of those who already possessed one was raised— to prime ministers and ministers (such as the Dukedom of Prim —granted to the daughter of late prime minister [[Juan Prim]]— or the Dukedom of Castillejos —awarded to the other son of the aforementioned prime minister—), it was not until this historical period when it became customary, since King [[Alfonso XIII]] granted a total of sixteen of these dignities to former prime ministers or their relatives during his reign.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=de Francisco Olmos |first=José María |date=2010 |title=The granting of Noble Titles to the Presidents of the Council of Ministers during the Restoration (1874-1931) |url=https://www.ramhg.es/images/stories/pdf/nobiliaria-articulos/TITULOSPRESIDENTESfin.pdf |journal=Royal Academy of Heraldry and Genealogy |language=es}}</ref> Of these, four were dukedoms (granted to relatives of assassinated prime ministers), three were marquessates and two counties, as well as seven [[Grandee|grandships]] were granted.<ref name=":6" /> Likewise, the monarch also rewarded with numerous [[Order of the Golden Fleece|golden fleeces]].<ref name=":6" /> King [[Juan Carlos I]] wanted to restore this tradition and, therefore, as a reward for their service, the last noble titles granted (both with grandship) were those of [[Adolfo Suárez]] (to whom the golden fleece was also awarded in 2007<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-08 |title=El Rey concede el Toisón de Oro a Adolfo Suárez |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20070607/rey-concede-toison-oro-adolfo-5456140 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.elperiodico.com |language=es}}</ref>), who was created [[Duke of Suárez]] in 1981<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-23 |title=Muere Adolfo Suárez, el presidente de la Transición |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/03/23/532eecdf268e3e791e8b456d.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref> and [[Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, 1st Marquess of la Ría de Ribadeo|Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo]], created {{Interlanguage link|Marquess of the Ría de Ribadeo|es|Marquesado de la Ría de Ribadeo}} in 2002, twenty years after holding the office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-06-25 |title=El Rey nombra a Calvo-Sotelo marqués de la Ría de Ribadeo con Grandeza de España |url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/amarina/2002/06/25/rey-nombra-calvo-sotelo-marques-ria-ribadeo-grandeza-espana/0003_1134094.htm |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=La Voz de Galicia |language=es}}</ref> The last prime minister to be offered a noble title was [[Felipe González]], who rejected the offer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-05 |title=Los que dijeron "no" |url=https://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20110205/sociedad/dijeron-20110205.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=El Correo |language=es-ES}}</ref> Since then, neither King [[Juan Carlos I]] nor King [[Felipe VI]] have offered prime ministers such an honor.

=== Staff, salary and office ===
In 1983, the first government of Felipe González established the "Statute of Former Prime Ministers", which granted retired prime ministers, for four years, the right to have an office composed by two civil servants, a minimum endowment of 2.5 million [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]] each year for office expenses and an official vehicle with driver.<ref>{{Citation |last=Office of the Prime Minister |title=Real Decreto 2102/1983, de 4 de agosto, por el que se establece el Estatuto de los ex Presidentes del Gobierno |date=1983-08-08 |url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/1983/08/04/2102 |issue=Real Decreto 2102/1983 |pages=21933 |access-date=2023-11-19 |language=es}}</ref>

Nine years later, the government updated the Statute, removing the time limit the prime minister would receive privileges, including diplomatic assistance abroad, security, a personal salary for two years after leaving the office and, free pass in public transportation and an undetermined endowment for office expenses.<ref>{{Citation |last=Office of the Prime Ministerio |title=Real Decreto 405/1992, de 24 de abril, por el que se regula el Estatuto de los Ex Presidentes del Gobierno |date=1992-05-04 |url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/1992/04/24/405 |issue=Real Decreto 405/1992 |pages=14993 |access-date=2023-11-19 |language=es}}</ref>

Since 2004, the retired prime ministers are eligible for a seat in the [[Council of State (Spain)|Council of State]] for life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DÍAS |first=CINCO |date=2004-07-24 |title=El Consejo de Estado supervisará la reforma de la Constitución |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2004/07/24/economia/1090648583_850215.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Cinco Días |language=es}}</ref> As of 2025, only Jose María Aznar (2005–2006) and [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] (2011–2015) used this privilege.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Confidencial |first=El |date=2015-07-28 |title=Zapatero abandona el Consejo de Estado para presidir el consejo de una fundación alemana |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2015-07-28/zapatero-consejo-estado-fundacion-alemana_946019/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref>

For the [[fiscal year]] 2023 (extended to 2024 and 2025), each of the living prime ministers receive €74,580 for the sustenance of their respective offices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manovel |first=Marina León |date=2023-07-15 |title=¿Cuál es el sueldo vitalicio que cobra Rajoy, Aznar o Felipe González después de ser presidentes? |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/elecciones-generales/2023-07-15/sueldo-vitalicio-politicos-rajoy-aznar-felipe-gonzalez_3700417/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref>

==Recent prime ministers==
{{see also|List of prime ministers of Spain}}

===Timeline===
{{Further|List of prime ministers of Spain#Kingdom of Spain (1975–present)}}

{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:80 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

Colors     =
  id:MN     value:rgb(0.439,0.502,0.565)  legend:MN
  id:UCD    value:rgb(0.098,0.494,0.212)  legend:UCD
  id:PSOE   value:rgb(0.937,0.110,0.153)  legend:PSOE
  id:PP     value:rgb(0.114,0.518,0.808)  legend:PP
  id:gray1  value:gray(0.85)
  id:gray2  value:gray(0.95)
  id:grid   value:gray(0.5)

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1975 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1975
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1975

Legend     = columns:1 left:205 top:35 columnwidth:75

TextData =
  pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData =
  barset:PM

  bar:ANavarro
  bar:Santiago
  bar:Suárez
  bar:CalvoSotelo
  bar:González
  bar:Aznar
  bar:Zapatero
  bar:Rajoy
  bar:Sánchez

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM

  bar:ANavarro
  from: 05/12/1975 till: 01/07/1976 color:MN text:"[[Carlos Arias Navarro|Arias Navarro]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Santiago
  from: 01/07/1976 till: 03/07/1976 color:MN text:"[[Fernando de Santiago|De Santiago]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Suárez
  from: 03/07/1976 till: 07/04/1977 color:MN
  from: 07/04/1977 till: 26/02/1981 color:UCD text:"[[Adolfo Suárez|Suárez]]" fontsize:10
  bar:CalvoSotelo
  from: 26/02/1981 till: 02/12/1982 color:UCD text:"[[Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo|Calvo-Sotelo]]" fontsize:10
  bar:González
  from: 02/12/1982 till: 05/05/1996 color:PSOE text:"[[Felipe González|González]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Aznar
  from: 05/05/1996 till: 17/04/2004 color:PP text:"[[José María Aznar|Aznar]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Zapatero
  from: 17/04/2004 till: 21/12/2011 color:PSOE text:"[[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero|Rodríguez Zapatero]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Rajoy
  from: 21/12/2011 till: 01/06/2018 color:PP text:"[[Mariano Rajoy|Rajoy]]" fontsize:10
  bar:Sánchez
  from: 02/06/2018 till: end color:PSOE text:"[[Pedro Sánchez|Sánchez]]" fontsize:10

}}

==See also==
*[[Elections in Spain]]
*[[List of prime ministers of Spain]]
*[[Politics of Spain]]
*[[Cabinet Office (Spain)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Prime Ministers of Spain}}
{{Departments and agencies of the Government of Spain}}
{{Europe heads of state and government}}
{{European Council}}
{{Prime Minister}}

[[Category:Prime ministers of Spain| ]]
[[Category:Government of Spain]]
[[Category:Politics of Spain]]
[[Category:Spanish Prime Minister's Office]]