Spain's government sworn in with 11 female ministers

By Stefan Bos

Many women were taking their oaths on Thursday before Spanish King Felipe VI.

The new Socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is comprised of 11 female ministers — overseeing key areas such as the national economy, finance and defense — and just six men.

Official figures show that the women represent nearly 65 percent of the new Cabinet. That's even more than the over 62 percent that the Finnish government scored in 2015.

Most of the new ministers referred to the female majority in their oath-taking.

The new government was sworn after a court ruling over corruption scandals involving the conservative Popular Party prompted a no-confidence vote against Mariano Rajoy. He had been prime minister since 2011.

FEMINIST GOVERNMENT 

Sanchez replaced Rajoy last week. He has defined his government as feminist, progressive, pro-European and "a loyal reflection of the best in the society that it aspires to serve."

Carmen Calvo, an expert in constitutional law and former culture minister, will be Sanchez's deputy prime minister and also in charge of the resurrected Ministry of Equality.

She said that the government "has to work to reduce inequalities and achieve greater equality, which affects men and women."

But the cabinet of Prime Minister Sanchez will also face tensions including over Catalonia, where nationalists have pledged to seek independence for the wealthy region.