Oscar Lopez recovered this Friday from the hands of José Luis Escriva the portfolio of the Ministry of Digital transformation and of Public serviceA transfer in which the new minister promised “continuity” in the policy of his predecessor so that Spain continues to become “a world reference” in terms of digitalization and improvement of public service.
López began his first speech as minister by thanking Sánchez for his confidence in facing “this new challenge,” given the importance that digital transformation and the modernization of public administration have for both the country and the government.
The former chief of staff of the Presidency of the Government promised “continuity” in the policy of the ministry he has just assumed. However, he added that it must be borne in mind that in technological aspects such as artificial intelligence (AI), “we must follow the path.”
Concerning the other part of his Ministry, that linked to the Public serviceLopez highlighted the challenge of its modernization, taking into account the “fundamental” role that those responsible play so that the country continues to advance.
Lopez was supported by six members of the government, including Maria Jesus MonteroFirst Vice President and Minister of Finance; and Therese RiberaThird Vice-President and Minister of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. The heads of the Interior were also present, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Felix Bolanos; Agriculture, fisheries and food, Luis Planasand equality, Ana Redondo.
On behalf of the economic sector, the Spanish leaders of the four largest telecommunications operators in the country participated in: Emilio Gayo (Phone), Meinrad Spenger (Masorange), Jose Miguel Garcia (Vodafone) and Marius Varzaru (Digi). Another of those present was Diego Rubiohis successor as Pedro Sánchez’s chief of staff.
A young ministry
The department that Lopez will lead is barely a year old, but in that time it has already faced various variations.
It was in November 2023 that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced after his re-election the creation of a specific portfolio for digital transformation, which until then had been part of the economy, under Escrivá’s mandate. This composition did not last long, barely a month, since it was then that Sánchez decided to include the Civil Service, which until then depended on the Treasury, alongside Digital Transformation. It was born, like that, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Civil Service.
To this busy beginning, different exits and entries of profiles are gradually added, among which the most notable is that of the former Secretary of State for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, Carme Artigas, who was replaced by Mayte Ledo, or that of the CDO of Spain, Alberto Palomo.
Today, less than a year later, a new change is coming to this ministry, which It will be directed by Óscar López in his new stage.
Lopez comes to the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Service from the Office of the President of the Government, where He was considered a “key man” since the departure of Iván Redondo. In theory, no changes are expected in the government until Teresa Ribera leaves the European Commission next November.
The challenges ahead
The arrival of Lopez at the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Service is not without challenges, because it is facing one of the most prolific stages of digital transformation, both at national, European and international level.
One of the aspects that will mark this new stage in the country’s digital portfolio will be the landing of the European regulation on artificial intelligence, which came into force a few weeks ago. Then, a transition period was opened during which certain provisions will be gradually applied until they become mandatory in August 2026.
The weight of to facilitate this transition in the most efficient and simple way possible with the help of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA), the body responsible for implementing this law in the national territory. In fact, this institution began operating just a day before Escrivá’s departure was announced and, now, the current minister must strengthen its operations, which include the development of the famous test environments (sandboxes).
Continuing with artificial intelligence, one of the former minister’s major milestones was the approval of the new Spanish AI strategy, which has come to reinforce the existing one and which implies an investment of 1,500 million euros, to which are added 600 million already in progress in programs, mainly, dedicated to talents. It is now expected that the new president will complete the deployment of the initiatives presented in accordance with this document.
Beyond AI, López will also have to build on other initiatives launched in recent months by the previous minister. such as the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), known as “Digital SEPI”. At the beginning of August, the first meeting of this organization was held, during which the proper names that will make up said entity were announced, so the sector is waiting to see its first actions (beyond the financing of the construction of the IMEC building in Malaga announced last July).
Another of the previous minister’s major initiatives This was the beta digital walletan application developed by the government that includes a verification system to guarantee the age of majority to access adult content that is part of the entry into force of eIDAS2. As Escriva promised, a first version would be released at the end of the summer available to citizens, so it is the new president who should take over.
In addition, López must win some of the calls presented during this period and that are still valid, for example, the last one of the Digital Generation SME Program, which is open until next September 18, those of the Digital Kit, Consulting Kit or, the last one, the 200 million announced by Red.es dedicated to digital training through professional associations.
A “key” man
The new Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service takes up this position directly from the office of the Presidency of the Government, where he has held this position since 2021.
Lopez is considered a key man in Sanchez’s organization chartwhich he accompanied in its first stage. He was Secretary General of the PSOE of Castilla y León between 2008 and 2012, as well as spokesperson in the Cortes between 2011 and 2014 and Organization Secretary of the PSOE at national level between 2012 and 2014.
He then served as spokesman for the Socialist parliamentary group in the Senate until the end of 2016 and, in 2018, he headed Paradores, the state-owned hotel company, until 2021. When He was called up to replace Iván Redondo as chief of staff of Pedro Sánchez.
