Pedro Solbes

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Solbes and the second or maternal family name is Mira.

Pedro Solbes Mira (31 August 1942 – 18 March 2023) was a Spanish economist. He was the president of FRIDE, Madrid-based think tank.^[1]

Pedro Solbes Mira
Solbes in 2004
Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
In office 18 April 2004 – 7 April 2009
Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Preceded by	Javier Arenas
Succeeded by	Elena Salgado
Minister of Economy and Finance
In office 18 April 2004 – 7 April 2009
Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Preceded by	Rodrigo Rato
Succeeded by	Elena Salgado
In office 13 July 1993 – 5 May 1996
Prime Minister	Felipe González
Preceded by	Carlos Solchaga
Succeeded by	Rodrigo Rato
European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs
In office 16 September 1999 – 10 April 2004
Preceded by	Leon Brittan
Succeeded by	Joaquín Almunia
Personal details
Born	Pedro Solbes Mira (1942-08-31)31 August 1942 Pinoso (Alicante), Spain
Died	18 March 2023(2023-03-18) (aged 80) Madrid, Spain
Political party	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spouse	Pilar Castro
Alma mater	Complutense University of Madrid
Profession	Economist

Life and career

Solbes was born in Pinoso on 31 August 1942.^[2]

While independent in the sense of not being affiliated to any party, his various ministerial roles in Spain were always within Socialist Workers' Party cabinets.

From 1985 to 1991, he was third 3rd secretary of state for the European Communities. He was agriculture and fisheries minister (1991–1993) and finance minister (1993–1996) in Felipe González's cabinets, also MP representing Alicante for the same party until 1999.

Appointed by Spanish premier José María Aznar (of the main competing party, the People's Party), Solbes was a European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs in the European Commission presided over by Romano Prodi (the Prodi Commission).^[3]

Then Solbes served as second vice president and minister of economy and finance in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, which he held from 2004 to 2009.^[3][4]

Solbes died from cancer on 18 March 2023, at the age of 80.^[5]

Other activities

• African Development Bank (AfDB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (2004–2009)^[6]
• Asian Development Bank (ADB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (2004–2009)^[7]
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (2004-2009)^[8]
• European Investment Bank (EIB), ex-officio member of the Board of Governors (2004–2009)^[9]

Decorations

• Collar of the Order of Civil Merit (24 April 2009)^[10]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (10 May 1996)^[11]
• Commander by Number of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (30 May 1985)^[12]

References

1. "Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior - FRIDE". EuroMesco. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
2. "Who's who in the Spanish Cabinet". Spain View. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
3. "Spanish cabinet - key players". BBC. 22 April 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
4. "Whose head will roll?". The Economist. Madrid. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
5. "Muere Pedro Solbes, hombre clave en la integración de España en Europa". El País. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
6. 2006 Annual Report African Development Bank (AfDB).
7. 2005 Annual Report Asian Development Bank (ADB).
8. 2005 Annual Report^{[permanent dead link‍]} European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
9. 2006 Annual Report European Investment Bank (EIB).
10. "Royal Decree 776/2009, of April 24, by which the Collar of the Order of Civil Merit is awarded to Mr. Pedro Solbes Mira". BOE. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
11. "Royal Decree 1159/2004, 999/1996, of May 10, by which the Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III is granted to Mr. Pedro Solbes Mira". BOE. 11 May 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
12. "Order of May 30, 1985, by which the Order of Isabella the Catholic is granted the Commander by Number to Mr. Pedro Solbes Mira, General Technical Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance". BOE. 1 June 1985. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

External links

• El Mundo information on Pedro Solbes
• Solbes ordered to sell almost half of the gold reserves from the Spanish central bank. One year later, the gold once was at 1,000 $ Archived 14 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine

Political offices
Preceded by Carlos Romero	Minister of Agriculture 1991–1993	Succeeded by Vicente Albero
Preceded by Carlos Solchaga	Minister of Economy and Finance 1993–1996	Succeeded by Rodrigo Rato
Preceded by Isabel Tocino (Joint Commission for the European Communities)	President of the Joint Congress-Senate Committee for the European Union 1996–1999	Succeeded by Josep Borrell
Preceded by Leon Brittan	European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs 1999–2004	Succeeded by Joaquín Almunia
Preceded by Javier Arenas	Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain 2004–2009	Succeeded by Elena Salgado
Preceded by Rodrigo Rato	Minister of Economy and Finance 2004–2009	Succeeded by Elena Salgado