Changes

|chancellor =

|chancellor =

|chancellor-raw =

|chancellor-raw =

|pm         = Mariano Rajoy

|pm         = Pedro Sánchez

|pm-raw         =

|pm-raw         =

|area         = 195,364  sq mi

|area         = 195,364  sq mi

In October 1982, the Spanish [[Socialist]] Workers Party (PSOE), led by [[Felipe Gonzalez]], swept both the Congress of Deputies and Senate, winning an absolute majority. Gonzalez and the PSOE ruled for the next 13 years. During that period, Spain joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ([[NATO]]) and the [[European Community]].

In October 1982, the Spanish [[Socialist]] Workers Party (PSOE), led by [[Felipe Gonzalez]], swept both the Congress of Deputies and Senate, winning an absolute majority. Gonzalez and the PSOE ruled for the next 13 years. During that period, Spain joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] ([[NATO]]) and the [[European Community]].

In March 1996, [[Jose Maria Aznar]]'s Popular Party (PP) won a plurality of votes. Aznar moved to decentralize powers to the regions and liberalize the [[economy]], with a program of privatization, labor market reform, and measures designed to increase [[competition]] in selected markets. During Aznar's first term, Spain fully integrated into European institutions, qualifying for the European Monetary Union. During this period, Spain participated, along with the [[United States]] and other NATO allies, in military operations in the former [[Yugoslavia]]. President Aznar and the PP won reelection in March 2000, obtaining absolute majorities in both houses of parliament.  

In March 1996, [[Jose Maria Aznar]]'s Popular Party (PP) won a plurality of votes. Aznar moved to decentralize powers to the regions and liberalize the [[economy]], with a program of privatization, labor market reform, and measures designed to increase [[competition]] in selected markets. During Aznar's first term, Spain fully integrated into European institutions, qualifying for the European Monetary Union. During this period, Spain participated, along with the [[United States]] and other NATO allies, in military operations in the former [[Yugoslavia]]. Prime Minister Aznar and the PP won reelection in March 2000, obtaining absolute majorities in both houses of parliament.  

[[Image:Cantabria Santoña.jpg|thumb|240px|Santoña, Cantabria.]]

[[Image:Cantabria Santoña.jpg|thumb|240px|Santoña, Cantabria.]]

After the [[terrorist]] attacks on the U.S. on [[September 11, 2001]], President Aznar became a key ally in the [[war on terror|fight against terrorism]]. Spain backed the military action against the [[Taliban]] in [[Afghanistan]] and took a leadership role within the [[European Union]] ([[EU]]) in pushing for increased international cooperation on terrorism. The Aznar government, with a rotating seat on the [[UN Security Council]], supported the intervention in [[Iraq]].  

After the [[terrorist]] attacks on the U.S. on [[September 11, 2001]], Prime Minister Aznar became a key ally in the [[war on terror|fight against terrorism]]. Spain backed the military action against the [[Taliban]] in [[Afghanistan]] and took a leadership role within the [[European Union]] ([[EU]]) in pushing for increased international cooperation on terrorism. The Aznar government, with a rotating seat on the [[UN Security Council]], supported the intervention in [[Iraq]].  

Spanish parliamentary elections on March 14, 2004 came only three days after a devastating terrorist attack on Madrid commuter rail lines that killed 191 and wounded over 1,400. With large voter turnout, PSOE won the election and its leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, took office on April 17, 2004. Carrying out campaign promises, the Zapatero government immediately withdrew Spanish forces from Iraq but has continued to support Iraq reconstruction efforts. The Zapatero government has supported coalition efforts in [[Afghanistan]], including maintaining troop support for 2004 and 2005 elections, supported reconstruction efforts in [[Haiti]], sent troops to UNIFIL in [[Lebanon]], and cooperated on counterterrorism issues and many other issues of importance to the U.S.  

Spanish parliamentary elections on March 14, 2004 came only three days after a devastating terrorist attack on Madrid commuter rail lines that killed 191 and wounded over 1,400. With large voter turnout, PSOE won the election and its leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, took office on April 17, 2004. Carrying out campaign promises, the Zapatero government immediately withdrew Spanish forces from Iraq but has continued to support Iraq reconstruction efforts. The Zapatero government has supported coalition efforts in [[Afghanistan]], including maintaining troop support for 2004 and 2005 elections, supported reconstruction efforts in [[Haiti]], sent troops to UNIFIL in [[Lebanon]], and cooperated on counterterrorism issues and many other issues of importance to the U.S.  

In 2005, the Spanish Parliament approved a [[same-sex marriage]] bill.  

In 2005, the Spanish parliament approved a [[same-sex marriage]] bill.

In November 20, 2011, Mariano Rajoy Brey, from the Popular Party (PP), won the elections, and took office on December 20.

 

On November 20, 2011, the PP won a majority in the Congress, and its leader Mariano Rajoy Brey took office as prime minister on December 21. The subsequent general election, held on December 20, 2015, had an uncertain result, with both the PP and the PSOE falling well short of a majority. Rajoy formed a caretaker government, but negotiations among the four leading parties failed to reach an agreement. A snap election held on June 26, 2016, resulted in a better result for Rajoy's PP but it was still short of a majority. The king gave Rajoy the mandate to form a government, but there was no clear path to a majority coalition or a minority government with outside support. Finally, after Pedro Sánchez was ousted as its leader, the PSOE agreed that enough of its deputies would abstain to allow Rajoy to win approval on October 26 to lead a new government with the support of the [[Citizens (Spanish political party)|Citizens]] and several minor regional parties.

 

The second Rajoy government lasted until June 1, 2018, when, amid numerous accusations of corruption in the PP, it lost a vote of no confidence. Pedro Sánchez, who had again become leader of the PSOE, formed a minority government with support of the left-wing [[Unidos Podemos]] alliance and minor parties.

===Local Government===  

===Local Government===