Aznar also got the most votes in the 2000 general election this time obtaining an absolute majority of 183 deputies ( out of 350 ) in the Congress . The economy kept growing and unemployment finally began to fall during his second term . In foreign policy , Spain adopted a neoconservative approach and grew closer ties with the United States and the Bush administration , in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks . Aznar supported the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq . In 2002 , he faced harsh criticisms for the actuation of the government during the Prestige oil spill in Galicia . Support of the PP further declined after the invasion of the Iraq , which was not supported by the majority of the Spanish population , but was nevertheless carried out with Spanish support for the U.S. and the UK . A 2003 poll found by the public research institute CIS found that 91 % of Spaniards were against the invasion of Iraq
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
José María Aznar