Rajoy entrusts technocrat with recovery as he announces slimmed-down Cabinet

After two failed attempts at the Spanish leadership in 2004 and 2008, the 56-year-old Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday officially became the nation's sixth prime minister since the advent of democracy in the mid-1970s.

Shortly after taking the oath of office before King Juan Carlos at La Zarzuela Palace, the leader of the center-right Popular Party (PP) shut himself up with his aides to draw up the official list of members in his new Cabinet. Although there were no leaks prior to the official statement at around 7.30pm, pundits correctly guessed that the new government would be more streamlined than that of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the embattled Socialist leader who lost the November elections on the back of a persistent economic crisis and soaring unemployment. There will be 13 government departments, down from 15, with the most notable absences being a stand-alone culture ministry (folded in with education and sports) and a science ministry.

In a further sign of what the primary focus of this legislature will be, the economy and treasury ministry has been divided into two separate portfolios.

In a male-dominated government, a woman will nevertheless hold the number two job: Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, 40, is the new deputy prime minister. Ana Mato and Ana Pastor, two veterans from the José María Aznar era, will head the Health, Social Security and Equality Ministry and the Public Works Ministry, respectively.

A key appointment is the new economy chief, Luis de Guindos, an expert who reportedly tutored Rajoy in the finer points of economic science. Cristóbal Montoro will head the treasury and public administrations department, while Miguel Arias Cañete returns as agriculture minister after serving in that capacity under Aznar.

A noteworthy appointment is that of Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón as new justice minister. The move opens up a scramble to name the next leader of the Spanish capital, which will in all likelihood be Ana Botella, Aznar's wife and a member of the PP-run Madrid city council.