José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a "New York Times" reporter off the record that he had a "certain consideration" for Bush, because "I recognise that my electoral success has been influenced by his governing style", i.e., that Bush was so unpopular in Spain that he helped Zapatero win in 2004 and 2008. In March 2009, Spain announced that it would withdraw its forces from Kosovo. US State Department spokesman Robert Wood issued unusually strong criticism by stating that the United States was "deeply disappointed" by the decision. He said that Washington only learned of the move shortly before Spain announced it publicly. Spanish Defense Minister
Mariano Fernández Bermejo department for suits in Madrid. He is a founding member of the Progressive Union of Public Prosecutors. Bermejo is a member of the Socialist Party. He was appointed justice minister to the cabinet led by prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in a reshuffle on 12 February 2007. He succeeded Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar as justice minister. Bermejo retained his post in a May 2008 reshuffle. He resigned from office on 24 February 2009 due to his alleged intervention to a corruption investigation about a member of the People's Party. Bermejo was replaced by Francisco Caamaño Domínguez in the post.