It exists the possibility of ministers without portfolio, which are minister-level officials entrusted with a specific task and that do not head a department.
[1] Since the entry into force of the Government Act in December 1997, substitutions have taken place on many occasions, either to assume the portfolio temporarily or to replace a minister in a specific matter.
She used her right to maternity leave and her responsibilities were temporary assumed by the Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.
The ministries have, in any case, an Undersecretariat and, depending on it, a General Technical Secretariat for the management of common services (HR, budget, assets, websites, security...).
The lowest bodies such as deputy directorates-general are created by a Ministerial Order (ranked below the royal decree) of the competent minister.
Ministerial hierarchy:[6] The current Cabinet —the third government of Pedro Sánchez— was sworn in by King Felipe VI on 21 November 2023.