Zapatero government into office on 17 April. Zapatero's first cabinet was composed mainly by members of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and its sister party, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), as well as a number of independents. It succeeded the second Aznar government. The Council of Ministers was structured into the Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers, 16 ministries and the post of Spokesperson of the Government. The second Zapatero government was the government of Spain from 14 April 2008 to 22 December 2011, a total of days, or . Zapatero was elected Prime Minister by the Congress of Deputies
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Minister of Defence), Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra (president of the regional government of Extremadura and one of the most important socialist leaders), Miguel Ángel Moratinos (his minister of foreign affairs 2004–2010), Gregorio Peces-Barba (later appointed by him High Commissioner for the Victims of Terrorism, although he has already made public his resignation), Carmen Calvo (later appointed minister of culture), etc. Ten days later, on 18 January 2004, Zapatero announced that he would only become prime minister if the Spanish Socialist Workers Party received a plurality, renouncing possible parliamentary alliances in advance if that situation did not happen after the election.