US embassy cable - 04MADRID892

UNCLAS MADRID 000892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, SP, Spanish Election March 2004, PSOE - Socialist Party 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: BIODATA ON JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, 
PRESIDENT-ELECT 
 
REF: MADRID 880 
 
1.  (SBU) On March 14, the Spanish Workers Socialist Party 
(PSOE) led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero defeated the 
incumbent Popular Party (PP), in Spain's general elections 
(see reftel for discussion of election results).  Zapatero 
should be in place as President of the government by late 
April. 
 
2.  (SBU) Zapatero was born on August 6, 1960 in Valladolid 
(the capital of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-Leon) 
and comes from a left-leaning background.  He is the grandson 
of a republican captain who as executed by Nationalists at 
the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.  Zapatero was 
granted military deferments due to his law studies and has 
not served in the military.  He has devoted almost his entire 
adult life to politics.  Today, Zapatero is considered a 
center-left, social democrat. 
 
3.  (SBU) Zapatero joined PSOE in the city of Leon in 1979 
and became the leader of its youth wing in 1982.  By 1986, he 
held the number-two position in PSOE-Leon and was the 
youngest representative elected to Congress.  Between 1989 
and 1993, Zapatero served as PSOE-Leon,s Regional Secretary. 
 He was appointed to its Federal Executive Committee in 1994. 
 In 1997, after President Felipe Gonzales resigned as PSOE 
party leader, Zapatero was seen as the "next generation" of 
the Spanish Socialist Party.  After the Socialists were 
defeated in Spain's 2000 general elections, Zapatero 
presented himself as candidate for PSOE Secretary General. 
In 2000, he defeated Socialist Party "baron" Jose Bono and 
two other candidates to become PSOE Secretary General and 
leader of opposition in Congress. 
 
4.  (SBU) Zapatero holds a law degree and was Professor of 
Constitutional Law at the University of Leon.  He married 
Sonsoles Espinosa in 1988 and has two daughters. 
 
5.  (SBU) Zapatero speaks rudimentary English.  He neither 
smokes nor drinks.  He enjoys jogging, fishing, soccer and 
poetry. 
ARGYROS