Spagna Governo Profilo 2008

Capitale

nome: Madrid
coordinate geografiche: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
differenza di tempo: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary Islands

Indipendenza

the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

Festa nazionale

National Day, 12 Ottobre (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas

Costituzione

approved by legislature 31 Ottobre 1978; passed by referendum 6 Dicembre 1978, effective 29 Dicembre 1978

Suffragio

18 anni; universal

Ramo esecutivo

capo dello stato: King JUAN CARLOS I (da allora 22 November 1975); Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
capo di governo: Presidente of the Government (Prime Minister equivalent) Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO (da allora 17 April 2004); First Vice Presidente (and Minister of the Presidency) Maria Teresa FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (da allora 18 April 2004) and Second Vice Presidente (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Pedro SOLBES (da allora 18 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11 April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO reelected Presidente of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.94%