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 to withdraw their soldiers. This declaration moved Bush to send a letter expressing discontent to the Spanish premier. American troops were subsequently instructed to not take part during the traditional military parade on the Spanish national holiday in 2004 and in 2005, something which they used to, as both the Spanish and American armies –being NATO allies– are part of joint humanitarian missions; American troops returned to the military parade in 2006; this time Zapatero, being the Spanish premier, stood. Zapatero publicly stated his support for John Kerry as a candidate running in the U.S. Presidential election in 2004. After