Spain names Rosa Aguilar new minister of environment

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has named a new deputy premier and foreign minister as part of his biggest cabinet reshuffle since taking office in 2004.

Zapatero said Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba will replace Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega but will keep his portfolio.

Trinidad Jimenez, who has held the health position, will take over from Miguel Angel Moratinos as Foreign Minister.

Zapatero said Valeriano Gomez will replace Celestino Corbacho as Labor Minister.

Other changes announced last 20th October 2010 include Leire Pajin as Health Minister, Ramon Jauregui as Minister for the Prime Minister's Office and Rosa Aguilar to environment.

Rosa Aguilar takes up the Environment portfolio. She was originally a member of left wingers I.U. and was Mayor of Córdoba for many years for them until being persuaded into the Junta de Andalucía where she has been working in Public Works.

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Rosa Aguilar Rivero nació en Córdoba el 7 de julio de 1957 y fue alcaldesa de Córdoba durante diez años bajo las siglas de IU. Hace un año y medio dejó de ser militante de la formación de Cayo Lara para ocupar la consejería de Obras Públicas del gobierno andaluz del socialista José Antonio Griñán. En su última época mantuvo posturas críticas frente a algunas decisiones  de Izquierda Unida como su papel y alianzas en el País Vasco o la postura contraria a la Constitución Europea. De la Junta andaluza, Aguilar da el salto al Gobierno central, donde se ocupará del ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino, en sustitución de Elena Espinosa.