Aguirre Gil de Biedma, Esperanza

Date and Place of Birth:

3 January 1954, Madrid (Spain).

Education:

Degree in Law from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1974.

Professional Experience:

Aguirre is a civil public servant (Técnico Superior de la Administración Civil del Estado). Her entrance into politics took place during the early 1980’s when she was appointed to the position of General Deputy Director of Foundations for the Ministry of Culture of the centre-right government of the Democratic Centre Union party (UCD).

In 1983 Ms. Aguirre was elected city councilor in the Madrid Town Hall, where she remained in office until 1986. Three years later she was reelected and became city councilor for the Environment (1989-1995). In her third term, from 1993 to 1995, she took on the position of city councilor of Culture as well as Third Deputy of the Mayor of Madrid. A year later she rose to become First Deputy and Spokesperson of the People’s Party (PP) Municipal Group.

During José María Aznar’s first term in government, Ms. Aguirre was appointed Minister of Education and Culture (May 1996-January 1999). She voluntarily stepped down from this position in order to run for a seat in the Senate. She was elected Senator of Madrid for the VI and VII Legislatures (1996-2000, 2000-2004). Ms Aguirre was the first woman to serve as President of the Spanish Senate, a position which she held from February 1999 until October 2002 when she resigned in order to participate in elections for the Parliament of Madrid.

Currently, Ms. Aguirre serves as President of the Regional Government of Madrid, a title which she has held since October of 2003. She has been a Member of the PP National Executive Committee since January 1996 and the Spokesperson for the PP Regional Committee since July 1987. Ms. Aguirre is currently the Executive Vice-President of FAES (Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis), and has served as President of the PP of Madrid since November 2004. Within the People’s Party, she traditionally exhibits liberal political tendencies.