Pedro Sánchez Appoints Carlos Cuerpo as Spain's First Male Deputy Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez promoted Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo to First Vice President of the government on Thursday, March 26, 2026, while allowing him to retain his ministerial portfolio. The reshuffle was triggered by the departure of María Jesús Montero, who left the cabinet to run as a candidate in Andalusia. Arcadi España was named the new Minister of Finance, taking over the portfolio Montero had held. The changes were formalized through a handover of portfolios ceremony on March 27.

Cuerpo urges Europe to find its own voice The day of the handover, Cuerpo delivered the closing address at the VI Economic Forum of elDiario.es, where he called for Europe to "double down" on integration in response to the current geopolitical situation. His speech, which had to be recorded because it coincided with the portfolio handover ceremony, identified three priorities he described as "cornerstones": building a genuine European common market with particular emphasis on financial integration, deepening trade ties with countries that share European values, and achieving full energy sovereignty. Cuerpo argued that energy independence had already been important before the ongoing conflict but had become essential in its wake. „So that, in addition to making us more competitive, it makes us, above all, less dependent on conflicts like the Iran war” — Carlos Cuerpo via elDiario.es He also welcomed the ratification in the Spanish Congress of a decree aimed at mitigating the economic effects of the conflict. „We are going to continue working so that Spain keeps leading by example. With constructive proposals that are already allowing us to move forward together” — Carlos Cuerpo via elDiario.es

Sánchez told Cuerpo simply to keep being himself At the portfolio handover ceremony, Cuerpo revealed the advice Sánchez gave him upon announcing the promotion. „To keep being myself. That simple” — Carlos Cuerpo via elDiario.es Cuerpo described the instruction as the kind of guidance "one always longs to hear from one's bosses and the people around one." His speech also drew on a personal tribute to his grandfather, who began working at the age of nine and whom Cuerpo credited as a formative influence. „My grandfather was the architect of his own fortune but also of mine. Our obligation is to ensure that all Spaniards have the tools to be the architects of theirs. And so every day” — Carlos Cuerpo via elDiario.es Cuerpo framed the promotion as the beginning of a new stage and pledged to continue the government's focus on protecting households, workers, and Spain's productive sector.

Montero exits to lead PSOE's Andalusia campaign María Jesús Montero's exit marks a significant shift in the composition of the Sánchez cabinet. According to the Person Registry, Montero now serves as a member of the Spanish parliament representing Seville and holds the position of secretary general of the PSOE in Andalusia since 2025. Arcadi España, an economist and politician from Valencia, was confirmed as the new Minister of Finance as of March 27, 2026, according to his registry entry. The reshuffle makes Cuerpo the first man to serve as a deputy prime minister in the Sánchez government since 2018, according to source reporting. Pedro Sánchez has led the Spanish government since June 2018, initially forming a minority government before securing a coalition with the left-wing Sumar alliance. His cabinets have been notable for gender parity, with women holding a majority of ministerial posts for extended periods. The departure of senior figures to lead regional party campaigns is a recurring feature of Spanish coalition politics, particularly ahead of elections in major autonomous communities such as Andalusia.