Joaquín Almunia

Joaquín Almunia Amann is a Spanish politician, jurist, university teacher, and economist born in Bilbao in 1948. He is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Unión General de Trabajadores. His political career includes serving as Leader of the Opposition and running in the 1979, 1982, 1986, and 1989 Spanish general elections.

Almunia held several positions within the European Commission, including European Commissioner for Competition, European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, and vice-president of the European Commission. He has worked at Harvard University and the University of Alcalá. He was educated at the University of Deusto, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Paris. He speaks Spanish and works in Madrid.