Aznar names his successor

[Aidoneus]

Aznar names his successor
Deputy to lead Spain's ruling party into spring poll
Giles Tremlett in Madrid
Monday September 1, 2003
The Guardian

The Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, named his deputy, Mariano Rajoy, 48, as his successor yesterday, fulfilling a promise not to seek a third term at the general election next spring.

Mr Rajoy, deputy prime minister and government spokesman, and an acknowledged political fixer, was with Mr Aznar at a country residence yesterday planning a cabinet reshuffle.

His nomination was confirmed yesterday by the prime minister's staff.

Their People's party has a six-point lead over the Socialist opposition, led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, according to the state pollster CIS last week.

The bearded and bespectacled Mr Rajoy, whose affable and humorous character contrasts with that of the dour and prickly Mr Aznar, is expected to stand down from his government posts to become secretary general of the party.

His personal rating with voters is higher than Mr Aznar's, but behind that of Mr Rodriguez Zapatero.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,2763,1033243,00.html