FOR the first time in almost a quarter of a century, the Spanish Socialists have a new leader. The Federal Congress of the Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE) chose an economist, Mr Joaquin Almunia (49), as its secretary general after 48 hours of wrangling.
The opening session of the 34th congress was thrown into turmoil on Friday when Mr Felipe Gonzalez shocked the 950 delegates by announcing his decision to step down after 23 years in the post, almost 14 of them as Prime Minister. Although Mr Gonzalez said he was not standing for re-election, most members of the new federal committee are well known party stalwarts, albeit of the moderate wing of "renovators".
Mr Almunia, a minister from 1982-91, has been the party spokesman in parliament and is credited with shielding Mr Gonzalez from many of the recent accusations of corruption and sleaze. He was chosen by Mr Gonzalez to draw up the programme for the 1996 elections in which the socialists were narrowly defeated.
The two men are close friends. Mr Almunia only joined the party in 1974, the year Mr Gonzalez was elected leader. Mr Almunia was born and educated in the Basque city of Bilbao where he graduated in law and economics. He speaks fluent English (learned while working as a waiter in London) and French from his years studying in Paris. He is an avid supporter of Athletic de Bilbao football club, with a sharp sense of humour - although he admits he does not suffer fools gladly. His wife, Ms Milagros Candesa, is a biology professor at Madrid University and a militant feminist. They have two children.
In his acceptance speech he said the party would work towards winning the next elections - which must be held before 2000. "We are now a more united and cohesive party," he said. "Today we open a new phase, and our first goal is to win those elections."
He stressed that he would call on Mr Gonzalez to work with him in this task, but neither he nor Mr Gonzalez would give any clarification to a suggestion that Mr Gonzalez would be the socialist candidate for prime minister.