Pedro Solbes Mira (born 31 August 1942 in Pinoso, Alicante) is a Spanish economist. He was the president of FRIDE, Madrid-based think tank. Career While independent in the sense of not affiliated to any party, his various ministerial roles in Spain have always been within Socialist Workers' Party cabinets. Since 1985 to 1991, he was the 3rd Secretary of State for the European Communities. He was agriculture and fisheries minister (1991–1993) and finance minister (1993–1996) in Felipe Gonzalez's cabinets, also MP representing Alicante for the same party until 1999. Appointed by Spanish premier José María Aznar (of the main competing party, the People's Party) Solbes was a European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs in the European Commission presided by Romano Prodi (the Prodi Commission). Then Solbes served as second vice president and minister of economy and finance in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero which he held from 2004 to 2009. Other activities African Development Bank (AfDB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2004-2009) Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2004-2009) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2004-2009) European Investment Bank (EIB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2004-2009) References External links El Mundo information on Pedro Solbes Solbes ordered to sell almost half of the gold reserves from the Spanish central bank. One year later, the gold once was at 1,000 $ 1942 births Living people People from Alicante Agriculture ministers of Spain Economy and finance ministers of Spain Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politicians Spanish European Commissioners Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class Members of the 6th Congress of Deputies (Spain) Members of the 9th Congress of Deputies (Spain) Deputy Prime Ministers of Spain Secretaries of State of Spain