Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced two changes in his cabinet on Monday morning, ahead of the regional and municipal elections that will be held at the end of May across Spain. Héctor Gómez is replacing Reyes Maroto as the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister, while José Manuel Miñones replaces Carolina Darias at the Health Ministry.
Both Maroto and Darias will be running in the local elections on 28 May. Maroto will be standing to become mayor of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, while Darias has announced her candidacy to become the mayor of Madrid.
Héctor Gómez had already worked alongside Maroto at the tourism ministry and was previously the PSOE socialists’ party spokesman in the Spanish Congress, where up until now he had been serving as the president of the constitutional committee.
José Manuel Miñones, meanwhile, was the Spanish government delegate to Galicia. He has a degree in pharmacy, having been recognised as doctor cum laude by the University of Santiago de Compostela, and has published multiple research papers.
Gómez and Miñones will be sworn into their new posts on Tuesday 28 March and join the Spanish cabinet that same day.
Maroto had been at the head of the industry, commerce and tourism ministry since 2018, with Sánchez praising her efforts to ‘re-industrialise the economy, bolster commerce, and strengthen one of the sectors that suffered the most during the pandemic: tourism’.
Darias took over the health ministry in January 2021 after Salvador Illa stepped down to run in the Catalan elections a month later. Previously, she had served as territorial policy minister. Sánchez said she will be remembered for spearheading ‘an exemplary Covid-19 vaccination campaign’.
El nuevo ministro de @mincoturgob será Héctor Gómez, @Hectorgomezh, y el nuevo ministro de @sanidadgob será José Manuel Miñones, @jose_minones.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 27, 2023
Ambos conocen bien los ámbitos donde desempeñarán sus tareas y les avala su experiencia y cualidades. Gracias por vuestro compromiso. pic.twitter.com/UtMD4MO2LG
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