Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, commonly referred to simply as Zapatero, is the current Prime Minister of Spain and leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). Since he was elected, Zapatero has mainly targeted social issues within Spain, including his controversial decision to legalize of Same-Sex Marriage.

Fast Facts

1. Born: August 4, 1960 in Castile and Leon, Spain
2. Political party: Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
3. Current Prime Minister of Spain
4. Assumed office: April 17, 2004
5. Elected Secretary General of the PSOE in July 22, 2000
6. Wife: Sonsoles Espinosa
7. Led controversial and unsuccessful negotiations with the ETA

Controversial Policies

1. April 19, 2004: Announced that Spain would withdraw its 1,300 troops stationed in Iraq¹
2. June 25, 2004: Created a specialized court system for cases of violence towards women²
3. July 1, 2005: Legalized Same-Sex Marriage³
4. March, 2006: Negotiates with the ETA, a militant Basque organization that staged bombings before the 2004 elections
5. September 22, 2006: European Union leaders criticize Zapatero's policy of open amnesty to undocumented immigrants

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