The first government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was formed on 18 April 2004, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 16 April and his swearing-in on 17 April, as a result of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 2004 Spanish general election.

[1] It succeeded the second Aznar government and was the Government of Spain from 18 April 2004 to 14 April 2008, a total of 1,457 days, or 3 years, 11 months and 27 days.

The cabinet comprised members of the PSOE (including its sister party, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia, PSC) and a number of independents.

[2][3][4][5] It was automatically dismissed on 10 March 2008 as a consequence of the 2008 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.

[21][22][23] José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's first government was organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure varied depending on the ministerial department.