Fourth government of Felipe González

4th government of Felipe González

Government of Spain
1993–1996
The government in July 1993.
Date formed14 July 1993
Date dissolved6 May 1996
People and organisations
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterFelipe González
Deputy Prime MinisterNarcís Serra (1993–1995)
No. of ministers17 (1993–1994)
16 (1994–1995)
15 (1995–1996)
Total no. of members21
Member party  PSOE
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition party  PP
Opposition leaderJosé María Aznar
History
Election1993 general election
Outgoing election1996 general election
Legislature term5th Cortes Generales
Budget1994, 1995
PredecessorGonzález III
SuccessorAznar I

The fourth government of Felipe González was formed on 14 July 1993, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 9 July and his swearing-in on 13 July, as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 1993 Spanish general election. It succeeded the third González government and was the Government of Spain from 14 July 1993 to 6 May 1996, a total of 1,027 days, or 2 years, 9 months and 22 days.

González's fourth cabinet was an important change compared to the previous one: only five members remained in their previous ministries, four changed of portfolio and eight were new. It was described as the least political cabinet out of the four González governments, with up to six independent figures, as well as the one with the most female ministers (Carmen Alborch, Ángeles Amador and Cristina Alberdi). The sole deputy prime minister's office under Narcís Serra from the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) was maintained with increased competences on economic affairs.

The parliamentary defeat of the 1996 General State Budget bill on 25 October 1995 led to the virtual downfall of González's government, which was forced to prorogue the 1995 budget and ultimately decided to dissolve parliament and call a snap election. It was automatically dismissed on 4 March 1996 as a consequence of the 1996 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.