José Antonio Alonso

Who is José Antonio Alonso?

José Antonio Alonso Suárez, is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician.

A judge Alonso was elected to the Spanish Congress in 2004, representing León Province and was reelected in 2008. He later served as spokesman for the PSOE Parliamentary Group. From 18 April 2004 to 7 April 2006 he was the minister of the interior in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Described by his ministerial colleagues as a man "driven by his strong ideological beliefs and professionalism", Zapatero is said to have chosen Alonso on the grounds that the latter would fight terrorism without compromising human rights. Alonso served as the defence minister until 11 April 2008. Prior to his election he had been a critic of the People's Party's support for George W. Bush and their alleged politicisation of judicial bodies.