Minister of the Interior (Spain)

The Minister of the Interior is the head of the Ministry of the Interior and, as such, directs all the services of the Department and exercises senior command of the State Security Forces and Bodies. Likewise, is the highest authority in the country in matters of civil protection, traffic and prisons, being responsible for promoting, coordinating and developing the Government's policies in these areas. Likewise, it is also the maximum responsible for manufacturing, commerce, possession and use of weapons.

The Minister of the Interior is appointed by the king at the proposal of the President of the Government and has no term limit, as he is linked to the president's mandate. The current Minister of the Interior is Judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

Other functions

In addition to the functions already mentioned, in accordance with the Law on Security Forces and Corps, the minister is responsible for the general administration of citizen security and the superior command of the State Security Forces and Corps, as well as the responsibility of collaboration and assistance relations with the police authorities of other countries, in accordance with the provisions of International Treaties and Agreements.

Likewise, according to the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, the head of the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for proposing the necessary sanctions to the Council of Ministers. The Minister of the Interior is responsible for the highest direction of radiological and other emergencies that are declared to be of national interest. In the event of a declaration of national interest, the head of the Military Emergency Unit will assume the operational direction and coordination of the actions to be carried out in the disaster area under the direction of the minister.

Finally, it is also responsible for the smooth running of electoral processes and popular consultations, the regime of political parties and everything related to international protection.

The minister is a member of the National Security Council and the National Defense Council, and chairs the Security Policy, National Civil Protection and Higher Traffic, Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility councils.

Dependencies

The following bodies report directly to the minister:

• The Secretary of State for Security, a body that assists the minister in the exercise of the command of the security forces as well as in the international relations of the Department and aliens.
• The General Secretariat for Prison Institutions, responsible for the management of the Spanish prison system.
• The Undersecretariat for the Interior, a body that manages the Department ' s common services and directs government electoral policies, political parties, international protection, civil protection and support for victims of terrorism.
• The Cabinet, which immediately assists the Minister and, in particular, is responsible for the supervision of protocol services and the programming of institutional and international relations, when the holder of the Ministry is to intervene directly.
• The Communication Office, which assumes the competences regarding the official communication of the Department.

Headlines