(FILES) Newly appointed Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo (L) and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attend a swearing-in ceremony at la Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, on December 29, 2023. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on March 26, 2026 appointed Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo as deputy prime minister, replacing Maria Jesus Montero, who is stepping down to run in a regional election. A career economist with experience in European institutions, Cuerpo, 45, is one of the highest-rated ministers in Sanchez's cabinet in opinion surveys. (Photo by Andres BALLESTEROS / AFP via Getty Images)