Spain's Defence Minister hints at running for PM

 

Spain's Minister of Defence, Carme Chacón, side-stepped the question as to whether she wants to lead the Socialist party into next year's general elections. She quoted former Spanish leader Felipe González in saying how it is "one thing is to wish it and another for party members to want it."

Yesterday journalists asked the Minister if she would take part in Socialist primaries to elect a candidate, Chacón stressed that if the Prime Minister chose to run for a third term, she would support him. Zapatero has been vague with regards to his intention to run for a further term in office, with many politicians speculating that Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, also the deputy prime minister, will be the favourite to head the party, with the Zapatero's support.

Chacón admitted that the party is in a "tense" state, not due to questions of who will be their leader, but due to the coming elections.

"It won't be me who alters the respect that Rodríguez Zapatero deserves," said Chacón, 39, who was housing minister and deputy speaker of Congress before being appointed Spain's first female defence minister, in April 2008. She also said it is "obvious" that Spain is prepared to accept a Catalan prime minister, just as it is ready to have a woman leading the executive.