The Most Excellent
Reyes Maroto
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism
In office
7 June 2018 – 28 March 2023
MonarchFelipe VI
Prime MinisterPedro Sánchez
Preceded byRomán Escolano
(Economy, Industry and Competitiveness)
Álvaro Nadal
(Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda)
Succeeded byHéctor Gómez Hernández
Member of the Congress of Deputies
In office
21 May 2019 – 21 February 2020
ConstituencyMadrid
Member of the Assembly of Madrid
In office
9 June 2015 – 6 June 2018
Personal details
Born
María Reyes Maroto Illera

(1973-12-19) 19 December 1973 (age 50)
Medina del Campo, Spain
Political partySpanish Socialist Worker's Party
Alma materUniversity of Valladolid
OccupationEconomist, academic and politician

María Reyes Maroto Illera (born 19 December 1973) is a Spanish economist and politician who served as minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the government of prime minister Pedro Sánchez from 2018 to 2023.

Early life and education

Although Maroto was born in the town of Medina del Campo (province of Valladolid),[1] her parents are natives and residents of the also Valladolid town of Ataquines, where she spent her childhood and youth.[2][3] She graduated in Economics from the University of Valladolid.[4]

Career in academia

Maroto worked in the Ideas for Progress Foundation between 2011 and 2013,[5] and has been an associate professor in the Department of Economics at the Charles III University of Madrid.[6][7]

Political career

Regional deputy

Candidate number 20 on the list of the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) for the regional elections of May 2015 in the Community of Madrid,[8] Marto was elected and became deputy of the Assembly of Madrid, in which she served as socialist spokeswoman in the Committee of Budgets, Economy, Finance and Employment. She resigned from her parliamentary seat on 6 June 2018.[9]

Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, 2018–2023

Maroto was appointed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to integrate his new Council of Ministers, following the motion of censure that the PSOE presented against the previous government of Mariano Rajoy (PP) and that was approved by the Congress of Deputies on 1 June 2018[10]. Felipe VI sanctioned her appointment as holder of the portfolio of Industry, Commerce and Tourism by royal decree,[11] becoming the first woman to held the post. On 7 June she took office as Minister before the King at Palace of Zarzuela.[12][13]

Controversy

On 26 April 2021, Reyes Maroto received an envelope with a bloodstained razor or knife, days after Minister of Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, former Second Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, and Director of the Guardia Civil María Gámez received envelopes with bullets inside of them.[14][15]

When the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma began to erupt on 19 September 2021, Reyes Maroto declared that the eruption on La Palma could be used as a tourist attraction to lure visitors.[16] Her comments caused widespread criticism, because the Cumbre Vieja volcano is dotted with numerous homes, public buildings and businesses which began to be destroyed by the lava flows. Later, due to mounting criticism, including from opposition politicians, Reyes Maroto retracted her words.[16]

References

  1. ^ "ILMA. SRA. Dª MARÍA REYES MAROTO ILLERA". Asamblea de Madrid (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
  2. ^ González, Patricia (6 June 2018). "Una ministra de Ataquines para la cartera de Industria, Comercio y Turismo". El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Ataquines presume de ministra". RTVCYL (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  4. ^ Europa Press (6 June 2018). "Reyes Maroto, diputada en la Asamblea de Madrid, ministra de Industria, Comercio y Turismo". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. ^ Gil Sánchez, Iván (6 June 2018). "Reyes Maroto, una economista con visión de género como nueva ministra de Industria". El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  6. ^ de los Santos, A.L. (6 June 2018). "Reyes Maroto, diputada de la Asamblea de Madrid, ministra de Industria". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  7. ^ Belver, Marta (6 June 2018). "Reyes Maroto, experta en presupuestos, próxima a Pedro Sánchez y nueva ministra de Industria". El Mundo (in Spanish). Unidad Editorial. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. ^ BOCM JUNTA ELECTORAL PROVINCIAL DE MADRID (in Spanish)
  9. ^ Garrido felicita en el Pleno a Reyes Maroto por su nombramiento como ministra (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Joan, Guirado (14 November 2022). "Sánchez obliga a Reyes Maroto a enfrentarse a Almeida tras el 'no' de varios ministros". OKdiario. Madrid.
  11. ^ Real Decreto 357/2018, de 6 de junio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno (in Spanish)
  12. ^ Los 17 del "Consejo de Ministras y Ministros" de Sánchez prometen ante el Rey (in Spanish)
  13. ^ Real Decreto 357/2018, de 6 de junio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno (in Spanish)
  14. ^ "La ministra Reyes Maroto recibe un sobre con una navaja ensangrentada". ElDiario.es (in Spanish). 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. ^ Spanish minister gets knife in post, suspect identified - police Reuters, April 26, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Devastating volcano eruption can be used to lure tourists to Canaries, says minister". The Guardian. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
Political offices Preceded byRomán Escolano Economy, Industry and CompetitivenessÁlvaro NadalEnery, Tourism and Digital Agenda Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism 2018–2023 Succeeded byHéctor Gómez Hernández
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