Zapatero government Zapatero government José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero formed the Zapatero government on 18 April 2004 after being nominated by King Juan Carlos I to form a government as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party's victory at the 2004 general election. Zapatero was nominated again after the 2008 general election to form a new cabinet for a second term in office. The first Zapatero government was the government of Spain from 18 April 2004 to 14 April 2008, a total of days, or . Zapatero was elected Prime Minister by the Congress of Deputies on 16 April and was sworn
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero His style's defining word is "(buen) talante", roughly "pleasantness", "niceness" or "good disposition", which is in brisk and carefully chosen contrast with the more confrontational and brusque premiership style of previous Prime Minister José María Aznar. Similarly, Zapatero has been quoted to shy away from adopting unpopular measures, having a "habit of showering public money on any problem" and, in all, being "averse to tough decisions". One of the first measures he carried out as soon as he took office was to withdraw every Spanish soldier fighting in Iraq, calling the invasion of that country "an error based on lies".