José Blanco López
José Blanco López (born 6 February 1962), also known as Pepe Blanco, is a Spanish socialist politician. He was the deputy general of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and was the Minister of Public Works and Transport from 2009 to 2011. Political career Blanco López began his political career in 1986 when he was elected to the Spanish Senate. In 1996 he was elected to the Spanish Congress as a deputy for Lugo Province and was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He is a trustee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think tank. Blanco López was appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport in a cabinet reshuffle on 7 April 2009, replacing Magdalena Álvarez. On July 11, 2011, he was appointed spokesperson of the government without losing previous duties. Controversy On 28 December 2011 Spain's Supreme Court opened a probe into Blanco López's conduct on charges of influence peddling and accepting bribes. In 2013, the Spanish Supreme Court dismissed the case against him for those charges. In 2011, José Blanco received the Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III from the new Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy. Other activities Enagás, Independent Member of the Board of Directors