Zapatero

Zapatero is a Spanish surname meaning “shoemaker” or “one who makes shoes,” derived from the occupation associated with footwear. The term is common in Spain and in Latin American countries, and can be used as a descriptor for someone who works in shoemaking.

The best-known bearer of the name is José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (born 1960), a Spanish politician who served as Prime Minister of Spain from 2004 to 2011. A member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), he led the government elected in 2004 in the wake of the Madrid train bombings and was reelected in 2008. His administration pursued a range of social policy reforms, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005 and the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq. The presidency also faced the global financial crisis beginning in 2008, during which his government implemented stimulus measures and structural reforms. He left office after PSOE losses in the 2011 general election to the Partido Popular and remained a prominent figure in Spanish politics afterward.

In addition to the politician, Zapatero may refer to other individuals bearing the surname or, in a literal sense, to someone who practices shoemaking. The term’s primary association in contemporary contexts is with the surname and its notable bearers.

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