María Jesús Montero Cuadrado is, as of today, one of the most influential figures in Spanish politics. First Vice President of the Government of Spain since December 2023 and Minister of Finance since June 2018, she is also Deputy General Secretary of the PSOE since July 2022. And as if that weren't enough, since January 18, 2025, she has also served as General Secretary of the PSOE of Andalusia. Three simultaneous positions that, seen from the outside, generate exhaustion just by reading them.
But beyond the BOE and the budgets, there is a person with a life story that deserves to be told without the usual media noise. Here it goes.
From Triana to La Moncloa
María Jesús Montero was born in Seville on February 4, 1966, and spent her childhood in the Triana neighbourhood, where she studied at the José María Izquierdo school, a public institution where her own parents worked. Her father, Manuel, was a teacher in the male section; her mother, Conchita, also a teacher, was honoured by her former students. A middle-class family, with education as a central axis, which profoundly marked the trajectory of who would later become the number two of the Government.
Graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Seville, she also completed a master's degree in Hospital Management at the EADA Business School. A doctor by training, but a manager by vocation: most of her professional career was not spent in a consultation, but behind a desk. Between 1995 and 1998, she was Deputy Medical Director of the Virgen de Valme University Hospital in Seville, later moving to the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, first as Deputy Medical Director and then as Managing Director.
The leap into politics
During her university years, she was involved in grassroots Christian movements, and along with her then-partner, she made the leap to the Communist Youth. An ideological evolution that, although it may seem contradictory, is more common than it appears among those who grew politically in the eighties.
Her institutional career started strongly in the Junta de Andalucía. She was Deputy Minister of Health from 2002 to 2004, Minister of Health and Social Welfare from 2004 to 2012, and Minister of Finance and Public Administration from 2013 to 2018. More than fifteen years managing budgets, health policies, and parliamentary negotiations before making the national leap.
The turning point came in 2018. After the motion of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sánchez called her to take charge of the Ministry of Finance. Since then, she has not stopped: Government spokesperson, fourth vice president, first vice president. An upward career that few would have predicted when she was a medical student in Seville.
Personal life: ex-husband, daughters and the million-dollar question
Montero guards her private life with a discretion that, in politics, is almost an act of rebellion. Nevertheless, the essential details are known.
She married Rafael Ibáñez Reche, whom she met in the eighties while both were members of Izquierda Unida. He is a lawyer by profession and a confessed atheist, but the couple found a balance and married in church. A wedding that quite well summarises the negotiation skills she would later demonstrate in Congress.
Over time, the relationship evolved into an amicable separation. Both have expressed mutual respect and maintain a cordial relationship focused on the well-being of their daughters. It is unknown whether Montero currently has a partner. The minister has made no statement on the matter, and that is, precisely, the answer.
Her two daughters
From her marriage to Rafael Ibáñez, she has two daughters, both of whom are adults and have pursued their academic careers at the University of Seville. Both Montero and her ex-husband have been active members, and their daughters grew up in an environment of political debate and social commitment. The minister herself acknowledged in an interview that politics was always discussed at home since they were little, although she is not sure who they have voted for. Which, in such a family, is quite amusing.
General Secretary of PSOE-A: the new challenge
Montero became the seventh General Secretary of the PSOE of Andalusia in January 2025 and the second woman to hold that position, after Susana Díaz. Her proclamation was practically automatic: the only alternative candidate, Luis Ángel Hierro, failed to gather the necessary endorsements.
Montero herself has confirmed her intention to leave the Government to focus on leading the party in Andalusia as the date of the regional elections approaches, scheduled for 2026. A leap that she describes as a challenge that excites her, because, as she has publicly stated, returning to Andalusia is not returning: it is that she never left.
Frequently asked questions about María Jesús Montero
How old is María Jesús Montero?
Born in Seville on February 4, 1966, María Jesús Montero is 59 years old.
What did María Jesús Montero study?
She holds a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Seville and is a technician in Administrative Function of Hospitals. She also completed a master's degree in Hospital Management at the EADA Business School.
Does she currently have a partner?
As of today, no romantic relationship is known. She has been separated from her ex-husband, Rafael Ibáñez Reche, for years, with whom she maintains a cordial relationship. Montero has made no public pronouncement about her current love life.
How many children does María Jesús Montero have?
She is the mother of two daughters, the result of her marriage to Rafael Ibáñez, both residing in Seville and pursuing university studies in that city.
What position does she currently hold?
She is the First Vice President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Finance since December 2023. In addition, she is General Secretary of the PSOE of Andalusia since January 2025 and Deputy General Secretary of the federal PSOE.
When will she leave the Government?
She has announced that she will leave her responsibilities in the central Executive to fully focus on leading the PSOE-A as the date of the Andalusian regional elections approaches. The calendar points to 2026, although early elections are always a possibility in Spanish politics.
Why is she known as "Marisu" or "Chiqui"?
These are her nicknames in close circles. In her intimate environment, she is known as "Marisu", while "Chiqui" is another familiar name that has emerged in some reports. The politician who negotiates million-euro budgets in Congress apparently has a rather domestic nickname.
What is María Jesús Montero's net worth?
According to her latest known asset declaration, she owns three homes and a commercial property, with a net worth of just over 110,000 euros, the majority corresponding to real estate at 50%. A figure that makes her one of the ministers with the lowest declared wealth in the Government.
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