Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
| (First) Deputy Prime Minister of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Vicepresidencia (Primera) del Gobierno de España | |
since 29 December 2023 | |
| Government of Spain Council of Ministers | |
| Style | Excelentísimo/a Señor/a |
| Member of | Council of Ministers |
| Seat | Madrid, Spain |
| Nominator | The Prime Minister |
| Appointer | The Monarch Countersigned by the Prime Minister |
| Term length | No fixed term No term limits are imposed on the office. |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of 1978 |
| Formation | 3 October 1840 |
| First holder | Joaquín María Ferrer |
| Salary | €77,992 p.a. |
The deputy prime minister of Spain, officially the vice president of the Government (Spanish: Vicepresidente del Gobierno), is the second in command to the prime minister, assuming the responsibilities of the premiership when the prime minister is absent or incapable of exercising power.
The deputy prime minister is usually handpicked by the prime minister from the members of the Council of Ministers and appointed by the Monarch before whom they take an oath. The deputy prime minister may be the head of a government department, but it depends on the will of the prime minister, who may have a deputy premier without a portfolio.
When there are more than one deputy prime minister, the officeholder is frequently referred to as the first deputy prime minister (Spanish: Vicepresidente primero del Gobierno). Since 2023, there are three deputy prime ministers; María Jesús Montero serves as first deputy prime minister since 29 December 2023 and as minister of Finance since 2018.