This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44382051

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque joins government as science minister Women outnumber men in Spain PM Sánchez's new cabinet
(about 2 hours later)
Spain's first astronaut, Pedro Duque, has been named minister of science by the country's new Socialist government. Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has given 11 of his 17 cabinet posts to women, a higher proportion than anywhere else in Europe.
Prime Minister and self-labelled feminist Pedro Sánchez is expected to appoint a women-majority cabinet, in contrast to the male-dominated executives of ousted PM Mariano Rajoy. A self-styled feminist, Mr Sánchez's choice was in marked contrast to the male-dominated executives of ex-PM Mariano Rajoy, ousted last week.
Women have got some of the key posts, including the defence, economy, finance and education portfolios, reports say. Women are given some of the biggest jobs including the defence, economy, finance and education portfolios.
Mr Sánchez's deputy, Carmen Calvo, will run a reinstated equality ministry. An ex-astronaut, Pedro Duque, has been given the role of science minister.
His choice of party colleagues and experienced figures from outside politics is being described in Spain as a "feminist cabinet". Mr Sánchez's mix of party colleagues and experienced figures from outside politics is being described in Spain as a "feminist cabinet". In a televised statement, he said his new government was made up of people who "shared the same vision of a progressive society that was both modernising and pro-European".
While the official list was being announced on Wednesday evening, key names emerged earlier in Spanish media. They include: He spoke of Europe as "our new homeland" and said he saw his cabinet as a faithful reflection of a change in Spain that had emerged on 8 March through a feminist movement. An estimated five million women across the country staged a "feminist strike" on that day against wage inequality and gender violence.
One of the stand-out names was ex-astronaut Pedro Duque, 55, who last went to space in 2003 as part of an International Space Station (ISS) mission. It marked, said the new prime minister, "a before and an after", in Spanish society.
An aeronautical engineer with three children, he is reportedly prone to quoting the late British science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke. Who's who in the Sánchez government?
Mr Duque was selected by the European Space Agency's astronaut corps in 1992 and travelled to space for the first time in 1998, when he joined Nasa's STS-95 mission from Cape Canaveral. Mr Duque served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the nine-day mission. One of the biggest jobs has gone to Carmen Calvo, a Socialist who will become deputy prime minister and take charge of a reinstated equality ministry. Some of the other new ministers are:
He and three other STS-95 crew members were awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for international cooperation in 1999, which called them "the architects of the pacific exploration of the universe". Spain's new government of 18, including Pedro Sánchez himself, is 61.1% women - the highest proportion in the country's history. Only a handful of countries have governments where at least 50% of ministers are women. They include France, Sweden and Canada.
In 2003, he took part in the 10-day Cervantes ISS mission as a flight engineer on the Russian Soyuz-TMA.
His official title will be minister of science, innovation and universities, reports say.
Only a handful of countries have governments where at least 50% of ministers are women. They include France, Sweden and Canada.
New PM looks beyond party for talentNew PM looks beyond party for talent
By James Badcock, MadridBy James Badcock, Madrid
Pedro Sánchez promised his government would be "Socialist and have gender parity". In fact, the government is not entirely Socialist because of its strong technocratic core, and so far women are commanding a majority.Pedro Sánchez promised his government would be "Socialist and have gender parity". In fact, the government is not entirely Socialist because of its strong technocratic core, and so far women are commanding a majority.
Given that Mr Sánchez has promised to call elections in less than two years and that he has inherited the outgoing government's budget for 2018, he is looking for a formula that will give him victory at the polls. He may have only 84 seats out of 350 and will struggle to pass reforms, but he hopes to at least dangle enticing plans before Spanish voters.Given that Mr Sánchez has promised to call elections in less than two years and that he has inherited the outgoing government's budget for 2018, he is looking for a formula that will give him victory at the polls. He may have only 84 seats out of 350 and will struggle to pass reforms, but he hopes to at least dangle enticing plans before Spanish voters.
He has made a point of sourcing talent from outside his party as well as within. The women in his cabinet include a climate change treaty negotiator, a top Eurocrat and Spain's top anti-terror prosecutor.He has made a point of sourcing talent from outside his party as well as within. The women in his cabinet include a climate change treaty negotiator, a top Eurocrat and Spain's top anti-terror prosecutor.
Conservative Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who took office in 2011, was ousted as PM last week after losing a no-confidence motion in parliament. Who's the astronaut?
Mr Sánchez won the support of six other parties to remove Mr Rajoy over a massive corruption scandal. His party only has a quarter of the seats in parliament. One of the other stand-out names was ex-astronaut Pedro Duque, 55, who last went to space in 2003 as part of an International Space Station (ISS) mission.
An aeronautical engineer with three children, he was selected by the European Space Agency's astronaut corps in 1992 and travelled to space for the first time in 1998, when he joined Nasa's STS-95 mission from Cape Canaveral. Mr Duque served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the nine-day mission.
He and three other STS-95 crew members were awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for international cooperation in 1999, which called them "the architects of the pacific exploration of the universe". In 2003, he took part in the 10-day Cervantes ISS mission as a flight engineer on the Russian Soyuz-TMA.
Conservative Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who took office in 2011, lost his job as prime minister last week after losing a no-confidence motion in parliament.
Mr Sánchez won the support of six other parties to remove Mr Rajoy in the wake of a massive corruption scandal. However, his party only has a quarter of the seats in parliament.
On Wednesday, Mr Rajoy, 63, said he planned to leave the political scene, saying "there are other things to do in life than dedicate oneself to politics".On Wednesday, Mr Rajoy, 63, said he planned to leave the political scene, saying "there are other things to do in life than dedicate oneself to politics".
He added: "I had an enormously intense political life and I think it makes no sense to stay longer here."He added: "I had an enormously intense political life and I think it makes no sense to stay longer here."