Pedro Sánchez, full name Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón; a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), is a Spanish economist and politician. He was born on 29 February 1972 in Madrid. Since June 2018 he has been President of the Government of Spain. He joined the PSOE in 1993 and became its general secretary; he served as leader of the opposition and candidate for prime minister during the period 2014–2016. Previously he held office as a member of the Congress of Deputies representing the Madrid constituency and as a member of the Madrid City Council.

Youth and Education

Sánchez grew up in the Tetuán district of Madrid. He completed his secondary education at the Ramiro de Maeztu Institute in Madrid, during which time he played for the Estudiantes youth basketball team.

In 1995 he completed his undergraduate studies in economics and business at the María Cristina Royal College of the Complutense University. He then pursued a master’s degree in European Union economics at the Free University of Brussels and earned a diploma in advanced studies on European economic and monetary integration from the Ortega y Gasset University Institute. In 2012 he received a doctorate in economics from the Camilo José Cela University and taught economics at the same institution.

Professional and Academic Work

Before entering academia, Sánchez worked as an advisor at the European Parliament. He also served in the cabinet of the United Nations High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1999, during the Kosovo conflict, he was chief of staff to the UN High Representative for Bosnia. Later he worked as a business consultant for various companies and provided economic advice to the PSOE’s federal executive committee. He also played an active role in the Madrid branch of the PSOE.

Political Career

Sánchez’s public service began at the local level. In 2004, following a resignation, he was appointed to the Madrid City Council. In 2009, after another resignation, he entered the Congress of Deputies. He lost his seat in the 2011 general elections and during this period completed his doctoral studies, returning to academic and consultancy work.

In 2013 he returned to the Congress of Deputies and was elected general secretary of the PSOE in 2014. Following the general elections of 2015 and 2016, and amid internal party disputes, he stepped down as general secretary in October 2016. After renewed efforts with party members, he was re-elected general secretary in 2017.

On 1 June 2018 he initiated a motion of no confidence against then Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The vote, triggered by corruption investigations involving Rajoy’s party, was approved by 180 votes in the 350-seat parliament. By constitutional procedure, Sánchez, as the proposed candidate for prime minister, assumed office on 2 June 2018. Since he lacked a parliamentary majority at the time of his appointment, his government relied on support from parties such as Podemos, Catalan pro-independence parties and the Basque Nationalist Party; as a result, the issue of Catalonia became a central item on the government’s agenda.

In January 2020 he won a vote of confidence by 167 votes to 165, becoming the first prime minister of a coalition government in Spain since 1978. One of the defining issues of his premiership has been the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, lockdowns and public health measures were implemented, with decision-making authority delegated to regional governments. In March 2023 he survived a motion of no confidence.

Assessments of His Premiership

Sánchez’s premiership has been marked by issues such as Catalonia’s independence demands, budgetary disputes and fluctuations in public support. Upon taking office he emphasized dialogue with Catalan actors; however, limited progress in this area contributed to political tensions. While economic growth has been observed, indicators such as unemployment and public debt have remained prominent on the agenda. Budgetary policies have been a subject of debate among coalition partners and other actors in parliament.

Personal Life

Sánchez married María Begoña Gómez Fernández in 2006 and has two daughters. He is interested in basketball and football and speaks French and English.