Pedro Sánchez presides over swearing in of María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, the first female President of the Council of State

Council of State, Madrid

During the event, the President of the Government highlighted that "today we are writing a particularly important new page in the history of the Council of State, since for the first time it will be headed up by a woman".

The Council of State - "a body the projects its function to a future that is built on the strength and permanence of institutions over time", thus guarantees its "symbolic continuity", according to the President of the Government.

Pedro Sánchez highlighted that "the person who today takes on the responsibility of presiding over the Council of State is well aware of what it means to open up new paths in the fight for equality, a task she has dedicated a large part of her life to". The President of the Government stressed that María Teresa Fernández de la Vega represents this commitment like no-one before her, and he underlined her vocation for public service in the three State powers, where she has had the chance to "demonstrate her bravery, honesty and ability to reach consensus".

The President of the Government traced out the career of the new president, stressing the more than four decades of service to society, both in the field of the law and in her political career in positions of maximum responsibility, also referring to her knowledge of the public administration and her experience over the last eight years as a Councillor of State.

Pedro Sánchez also underscored her "profound humanity, as evidenced in her work and her commitment at the head of the Women for Africa Foundation", and ended by predicting a new era for the Council of State with a "responsible and pro-dialogue" president.

Holder of a Law Degree from the Complutense University of Madrid, and a European Community Law Degree from Strasbourg University, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega joined the Employment Law Court Clerks Corps in 1974, and has been a judge on the fourth circuit. Among other posts, she has been an MP, the State Secretary for Justice, the First Vice-President of the Government, Minister for the Presidency and Government Spokesperson.

The President of the Government also expressed his gratitude to José Manuel Romay Beccaría, outgoing president, and to Landelino Lavilla, who has performed the functions of interim president in recent days.

Non official translation