The president of the government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, reshuffled his cabinet today in an attempt to get a 'change of rhythm' into the fight against recession and to achieve greater cohesion between the regions, a mission he chose to give to Elena Salgado and Manuel Chaves, the two new vice-presidents.

As well as Chaves, another new face in the cabinet is vice-secretary general of the PSOE, Jose Blanco (Ministry of Public Works); the former Secretary of State for Latin America, Trinidad Jiménez (Health and Social Policy); the president of the University vice-Chancellors' Committee, Angel Gabilondo (Education) and the director of the Cinema Academy, Ángeles González-Sinde (Culture).

After informing the King of the reshuffle, Zapatero held a press conference at the Moncloa Palace to announce the names of the new ministers, who have been sworn into their new offices by the King at the Palacio de la Zarzuela this afternoon.

Barely a year after forming his government after winning the general elections, Zapatero told the press that he had reshuffled his cabinet with the intention of creating 'a strong, proactive team with considerable political experience' that is ready to meet the challenges of the current political context and economic situation 'with renewed vigour and greater strength'.
 
His objective is trifold: get the economy and employment situation back on track 'to combat the crisis sooner rather than later', prepare to recuperate and strengthen national and social cohesion, and implement the reforms necessary to achieve a 'more solid' growth model.

Zapatero took the opportunity to thank the outgoing cabinet minsters Magdalena Álvarez, Mercedes Cabrera, Cesar Antonio Molina and Bernat Soria, and paid particular tribute to the work done by Pedro Solbes, whose standing down was, he said, 'a joint decision'.
 
The first vice-president, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, remains in her current post with the job of coordinating government policy and climbing the political ladder right behind her is another woman, Elena Salgado, the former head of the civil service who was today appointed second vice-president of the government and Treasury Minister

Zapatero underlined the Salgado's 'undeniable managerial abilities' and the importance of her new appointment, in which she will play a 'key role' in getting the country out of recession by making sure that the maximum yield is achieved from every euro of public money spent.
 
The former president of Andalusia, Manuel Chaves, takes the third vice-president position, and the title of Mnister of Territorial Affairs.  According to Zapatero, there is 'no better person' than the man who has lead Spain's largest autonomous region for the last 20 years to create a Spain in which central government is respected by the regions so that they can all work together for the greater development of the country.

Tomorrow the new ministers will go to their respective offices for an official handover, before heading to the Moncloa Palace for their first cabinet meeting.