Reyes Maroto

{{Infobox officeholder

| name =Reyes Maroto

| image = Reyes Maroto 2023 (cropped).jpg

| office = Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism

| term_start = 7 June 2018

| term_end = 28 March 2023

| predecessor = Román Escolano
{{small|(Economy, Industry and Competitiveness)}}
Álvaro Nadal
{{small|(Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda)}}

| successor = Héctor Gómez Hernández

| office2 = Member of the Congress of Deputies

| term_start2 = 21 May 2019

| term_end2= 21 February 2020

| constituency2 = Madrid

| office3 = Member of the Assembly of Madrid

| term_start3=9 June 2015

| term_end3=6 June 2018

| primeminister = Pedro Sánchez

| birth_name=María Reyes Maroto Illera

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|12|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Medina del Campo, Spain

| party=Spanish Socialist Worker's Party

| alma_mater = University of Valladolid

| occupation = Economist, academic and politician

| awards =

}}

María Reyes Maroto Illera (born 19 December 1973) is a Spanish economist and politician who served as minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in the government of prime minister Pedro Sánchez from 2018 to 2023.

Early life and education

Although Maroto was born in the town of Medina del Campo (province of Valladolid),{{cite web |url=http://www.asambleamadrid.es/ES/QueEsLaAsamblea/ComposiciondelaAsamblea/Distribuciondeescanos/Paginas/cu33icu1um.aspx?IdDip=1449 |title=ILMA. SRA. Dª MARÍA REYES MAROTO ILLERA |language=es |work=Asamblea de Madrid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143611/http://www.asambleamadrid.es/ES/QueEsLaAsamblea/ComposiciondelaAsamblea/Distribuciondeescanos/Paginas/cu33icu1um.aspx?IdDip=1449 |archive-date=12 June 2018}} her parents are natives and residents of the also Valladolid town of Ataquines, where she spent her childhood and youth.{{cite news |url=https://www.elnortedecastilla.es/valladolid/ministra-ataquines-cartera-20180606201007-nt.html |title=Una ministra de Ataquines para la cartera de Industria, Comercio y Turismo |language=es |first=Patricia |last=González |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=16 May 2020 |newspaper=El Norte de Castilla}}{{cite news |url=http://www.rtvcyl.es/Valladolid/fbccadf2b885f27f1449 |title=Ataquines presume de ministra |language=es |access-date=16 May 2020 |work=RTVCYL}} She graduated in Economics from the University of Valladolid.{{cite news |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/Maroto-Asamblea-Industria-Gobierno-Sanchez_0_779373035.html |title=Reyes Maroto, diputada en la Asamblea de Madrid, ministra de Industria, Comercio y Turismo |language=es |author=Europa Press |author-link=Europa Press (news agency) |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=16 May 2020 |newspaper=El Diario}}

Career in academia

Maroto worked in the Ideas for Progress Foundation between 2011 and 2013,{{cite news |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2018-06-06/ministra-industria-reyes-maroto-gobierno-psoe_1574999/ |title=Reyes Maroto, una economista con visión de género como nueva ministra de Industria |language=es |first=Iván |last=Gil Sánchez |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=16 May 2020 |newspaper=El Confidencial}} and has been an associate professor in the Department of Economics at the Charles III University of Madrid.{{cite news |url=https://www.larazon.es/espana/reyes-maroto-diputada-de-la-asamblea-de-madrid-ministra-de-industria-GP18602554 |title=Reyes Maroto, diputada de la Asamblea de Madrid, ministra de Industria |language=es |first=A.L. |last=de los Santos |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=16 May 2020 |newspaper=La Razón}}{{cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/madrid/2018/06/06/5b180bdeca4741723e8b45c5.html |title=Reyes Maroto, experta en presupuestos, próxima a Pedro Sánchez y nueva ministra de Industria |language=es |first=Marta |last=Belver |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=16 May 2020 |newspaper=El Mundo |publisher=Unidad Editorial }}

Political career

= Regional deputy =

Candidate number 20 on the list of the Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) for the regional elections of May 2015 in the Community of Madrid,[http://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/MADRID_2015_Candidaturas.pdf BOCM JUNTA ELECTORAL PROVINCIAL DE MADRID] {{in lang|es}} Marto was elected and became deputy of the Assembly of Madrid, in which she served as socialist spokeswoman in the Committee of Budgets, Economy, Finance and Employment. She resigned from her parliamentary seat on 6 June 2018.[http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180607/444188947077/garrido-felicita-en-el-pleno-a-reyes-maroto-por-su-nombramiento-como-ministra.html Garrido felicita en el Pleno a Reyes Maroto por su nombramiento como ministra] {{in lang|es}}

= Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, 2018–2023 =

Maroto was appointed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to integrate his new Council of Ministers, following the motion of censure that the PSOE presented against the previous government of Mariano Rajoy (PP) and that was approved by the Congress of Deputies on 1 June 2018.{{Cite web |last=Joan |first=Guirado |title=Sánchez obliga a Reyes Maroto a enfrentarse a Almeida tras el ‘no’ de varios ministros |url=https://okdiario.com/espana/reyes-maroto-candidata-del-psoe-alcaldia-madrid-9979959 |website=OKdiario |publication-place=Madrid |publication-date=2022-11-14}} Felipe VI sanctioned her appointment as holder of the portfolio of Industry, Commerce and Tourism by royal decree,[http://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2018-7577 Real Decreto 357/2018, de 6 de junio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno] {{in lang|es}} becoming the first woman to held the post. On 7 June she took office as Minister before the King at Palace of Zarzuela.[http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180607/444191293514/los-17-del-consejo-de-ministras-y-ministros-de-sanchez-prometen-ante-el-rey.html Los 17 del "Consejo de Ministras y Ministros" de Sánchez prometen ante el Rey] {{in lang|es}}[http://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2018-7577 Real Decreto 357/2018, de 6 de junio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno] {{in lang|es}}

Controversy

On 26 April 2021, Reyes Maroto received an envelope with a bloodstained razor or knife, days after Minister of Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska, former Second Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, and Director of the Guardia Civil María Gámez received envelopes with bullets inside of them.{{Cite web|date=26 April 2021|title=La ministra Reyes Maroto recibe un sobre con una navaja ensangrentada|url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/ministra-industria-recibe-navaja-ensangrentada_1_7869939.html|access-date=26 April 2021|website=ElDiario.es|language=es}}[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spanish-minister-sent-red-stained-knife-after-death-threats-others-2021-04-26/ Spanish minister gets knife in post, suspect identified - police] Reuters, April 26, 2021.

When the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma began to erupt on 19 September 2021, Reyes Maroto declared that the eruption on La Palma could be used as a tourist attraction to lure visitors.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/20/spanish-minister-volcano-tourism-la-palma-canary-islands |title=Devastating volcano eruption can be used to lure tourists to Canaries, says minister |work=The Guardian |date=20 September 2021|access-date=30 September 2021}} Her comments caused widespread criticism, because the Cumbre Vieja volcano is dotted with numerous homes, public buildings and businesses which began to be destroyed by the lava flows. Later, due to mounting criticism, including from opposition politicians, Reyes Maroto retracted her words.