Zapatero's interior and defence minister José Antonio Alonso dies from cancer aged 56

Alonso, who served on the cabinet of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero – in power from 2004 to 2011 – was diagnosed with the disease two years ago.

In 2011, he suffered a stroke whilst dining with friends, but made a very speedy recovery and was already on duty at the next government meeting.

He stood down from his political role in 2012 for 'family and personal reasons'.

Interior minister from April 2004 when the socialists (PSOE) won a landslide election victory from rival PP president José María Aznar, Alonso was appointed defence minister after the then department leader, José Bono, stood down in 2006, and Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba – who later became party leader and presidential candidate for a spell - moved to Interior.

During Alonso's time in Defence, he increased troop numbers in Afghanistan and sent the Spanish Army to Lebanon after the Middle Eastern country was invaded by neighbouring Israel.

Alonso was named PSOE spokesman in Parliament in March 2008, replacing Diego López Garrido.

He was also a celebrated magistrate from 1988 onwards, spokesman for Judges for Democracy from 1994 to 1998 and for the General Judicial Power Council – the judges' governing body – between 2001 and 2004.

Zapatero is said to be devastated, since Alonso was a close personal friend and came from the same region, Castilla y León.

He passed away in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) at Madrid's Ramón y Cajal hospital.

Floods of messages of condolences have flooded in from both the PSOE, including from its ex-leader Pedro Sánchez, and the PP.