MADRID, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday confirmed two changes to his cabinet ahead of the upcoming elections in May.
Hector Gomez was announced to replace Reyes Maroto as ministers for industry, commerce and tourism, while Jose Manuel Minones to replace Carolina Darias as minister for health, consumer affairs and social welfare.
Maroto and Darias are leaving their posts to run as the Socialist Party (PSOE) candidates for Mayor of Madrid and Las Palmas in the municipal and regional elections, to be held on May 28th.
Gomez has been promoted from his former post as the president of the Constitutional Commission in the Spanish Congress, while, Milones was the government delegate in the north-western region of Galicia. Both would be sworn into their new posts on Tuesday.
Sanchez thanked Maroto and Darias for their work during the "the worst moments" of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
He said Maroto had helped to modernize tourism, "one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic."
Meanwhile, Sanchez said Darias (who was named health minister in January 2021) had been "fundamental" in helping Spain leaving the COVID-19 pandemic behind, and "her name will always be linked to the successful vaccination campaign."
The prime minister also underlined that Gomez and Minones "are both excellent public servants, with unquestionable career trajectories and an unbending commitment to the defense of the public interest." ■