Cristóbal Montoro

The PP lost the 2004 Spanish general election and Montoro was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the People's Party. He sat on the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. He was a substitute for the Committee on Budgets, a member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community and a substitute for the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. ==Return to Spanish Congress==

He returned to Congress in 2008, serving as the Popular Party spokesperson on the economy until the party returned to power in 2011. In the first government of Mariano Rajoy, Montoro served as the Minister of Finance and Public Administration. In the second government of Mariano Rajoy, which began in 2016, he occupied a similar position as Minister of Finance and the Civil Service (his ministry was restructured in a cabinet reshuffle). ==Retirement==

In 2019, Montoro did not stand for re-election to Congress. In July 2025, Montoro unexpectedly returned to the spotlight when the media reported on allegations that while he was a minister in the People's Party government, a consultancy firm linked to him had received up to €11 million from energy companies. The firm in question was founded in 2006. It is said to have maintained direct access to Montoro after 2008, when he sold his shares in the business and ostensibly severed ties. While the money was filed as consultancy payments, reports suggested that the money could have been used to lobby the Rajoy government. It was further alleged that he had used civil servants in the Spanish Tax Agency and elsewhere as part of a "network of influence". ==Education==

• 1973: Graduate in Economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), he obtained the "Extraordinary Award" • 1981: Doctor in economics (UAM) ==Career==

• 1982-1988: Assistant lecturer in public finance (UAM, 1973–1982) and Deputy professor • since 1989: Professor of public finance at the University of Cantabria • Economist and director of studies • 1996-2000: Member of the Boards of Directors of Telefónica, Iberia, Endesa and SEPI • since 1999: Member of the National Executive Committee of the PP • 1993–1996, 2000–2004, 2008-present: Member of the Congress of Deputies. • 1996-2000: Secretary of State for the Economy • 1996-2000: Spain's representative to various economic and financial organisations • 2000-2004: Minister of the Treasury • 2011-2016: Minister of the Treasury and Public Administrations • 2016–2018: Minister of the Treasury and Civil Service ==Decorations==

• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic ==See also==