Felipe González Márquez

Prime Minister of Spain 1982-1996

When Felipe González Márquez became Prime Minister of Spain in 1982, he was, at age 40, Europe’s youngest Head of Government. He spent four terms in office, achieving impressive economic growth and ensuring Spain’s successful integration into the European Union
Business leaders from all fields will benefit from Mr González’s astute leadership skills and political acumen. With first hand experience of leading a country into the EU he is now very much in demand by high level decision makers eager to learn from his experiences.
Mr González first became involved in politics whilst studying law in Spain and Belgium. In 1964 he joined the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and two years later started a labour-law practice in Seville. In 1974 he became the Secretary General of the party, a position he held until June 1997.

When Felipe González Márquez became Prime Minister of Spain in 1982, he was, at age 40, Europe’s youngest Head of Government. He spent four terms in office, achieving impressive economic growth and ensuring Spain’s successful integration into the European Union
Business leaders from all fields will benefit from Mr González’s astute leadership skills and political acumen. With first hand experience of leading a country into the EU he is now very much in demand by high level decision makers eager to learn from his experiences.
Mr González first became involved in politics whilst studying law in Spain and Belgium. In 1964 he joined the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and two years later started a labour-law practice in Seville. In 1974 he became the Secretary General of the party, a position he held until June 1997.

In October 1982 Felipe González Márquez led the Socialists to a landslide victory and in doing so became Premier of Spain’s first leftist government since the Spanish Civil War. He was returned to power in 1986, 1989 and as a minority government in 1993. During his tenure as Prime Minister he turned around the Spanish economy, led Spain into the EU and successfully domesticated the Spanish armed forces after their failed coup attempt of 1981.
In December 1996 he was appointed as Special Representative of the Chairman-in-office of the OSCE to head a mission into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In May 1993 he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize and in October 1997, he was honoured with the Great Golden Cross for Merit by the Republic of Austria. He received the Doctor Honoris Causa from the Catholic University of Louvaine, and the University of Toulouse, in 1995 and 1998, respectively. Furthermore, he was presented with the Carlos V Prize by the Yuste European Academy in October 2000.

With an unprecedented 4 consecutive terms in office, Felipe González Márquez has a wealth of experience on the world’s political stage. A brilliant communicator and world class leader he is now highly sought-after as a speaker at prestigious events around the globe.

In October 1982 Felipe González Márquez led the Socialists to a landslide victory and in doing so became Premier of Spain’s first leftist government since the Spanish Civil War. He was returned to power in 1986, 1989 and as a minority government in 1993. During his tenure as Prime Minister he turned around the Spanish economy, led Spain into the EU and successfully domesticated the Spanish armed forces after their failed coup attempt of 1981.
In December 1996 he was appointed as Special Representative of the Chairman-in-office of the OSCE to head a mission into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In May 1993 he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize and in October 1997, he was honoured with the Great Golden Cross for Merit by the Republic of Austria. He received the Doctor Honoris Causa from the Catholic University of Louvaine, and the University of Toulouse, in 1995 and 1998, respectively. Furthermore, he was presented with the Carlos V Prize by the Yuste European Academy in October 2000.

With an unprecedented 4 consecutive terms in office, Felipe González Márquez has a wealth of experience on the world’s political stage. A brilliant communicator and world class leader he is now highly sought-after as a speaker at prestigious events around the globe.

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