José Antonio Alonso
José Antonio Alonso Suárez, (born 28 March 1960 in León, Spain) is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) politician.
A judge Alonso was elected to the Spanish Congress in 2004, representing León Province and was reelected in 2008.[1] He later served as spokesman for the PSOE Parliamentary Group. From 18 April 2004 to 7 April 2006 he was the minister of the interior in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.[1] Described by his ministerial colleagues as a man "driven by his strong ideological beliefs and professionalism",[1] Zapatero is said to have chosen Alonso on the grounds that the latter would fight terrorism without compromising human rights.[1] Alonso served as the defence minister until 11 April 2008. Prior to his election he had been a critic of the People's Party's support for George W. Bush and their alleged politicisation of judicial bodies.[2]
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ángel Acebes |
Minister of the Interior 2004–2006 |
Succeeded by Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba |
| Preceded by José Bono |
Minister of Defence 2006-2008 |
Succeeded by Carme Chacón |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Diego López Garrido |
Chairman of the Socialist Group in the Congress of Deputies 2008-2012 |
Succeeded by Soraya Rodríguez |
|