Spain's culture and sports minister Maxim Huerta resigned Wednesday after it emerged he has been fined for tax fraud, in a blow to the Socialist government that took over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pedro-sanchez-sworn-in-as-new-spanish-prime-minister-141841">only last week</a>.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ousted conservative Mariano Rajoy with a June 1 no-confidence vote in parliament sparked by corruption convictions against former senior officials of his Popular Party (PP).

Sanchez won praise worldwide for appointing a cabinet made up mostly of women as well as for offering to take in a ship with 629 migrants aboard when Italy's populist government and Malta refused them safe port.

But the string of positive press coverage ended Wednesday when online daily El Confidencial reported that Huerta, an award-winning author and television celebrity, evaded 218,322 euros ($256,462) in tax between 2006-2008 by using a shell company.

A court last year ordered that he pay over 360,000 euros to the tax office -- the amount he tried to evade plus fines and interest payments, it added.

"I am stepping down," Huerta told a news conference a week after he was sworn in on June 7, adding that the fine stemmed from a change in criteria used by the tax authority.

According to Spanish media, Huerta's term in office is the shortest of any minister in Spain's modern history.

"I have paid this fine twice," he said.

"The first time to the tax office...and I am paying it for the second time here, conscious that innocence is not worth anything before this pack of hounds," Huerta added in a reference to a firestorm sparked by the fraud report.

He said he was fully up to date with his tax payments and stressed he had decided to resign "autonomously".

No tolerance

The leader of anti-establishment party Podemos, which backed the Socialist party's no-confidence vote in parliament, had called for Huerta's resignation.

"We will not back behaviours which remind us of the PP," Pablo Iglesias told journalists earlier Wednesday.

"If Maxim Huerta tried to defraud the tax office, he should resign immediately, and if not, Pedro Sanchez should dismiss him."

In a Twitter message after the resignation, Iglesias said the prime minister had initially backed Huerta but "Spain is no longer what it was".

"As we said this morning, citizens no longer tolerate these things. I commend the government for hearing and rectifying," he added.

The PP also demanded Huerta's resignation while centrist party Ciudadanos called on him to explain himself to lawmakers.

Huerta will be replaced by Jose Guirao, who headed Madrid's Reina Sofia modern art museum between 1994 and 2001, the government said.

'Hated'&nbsp;sports&nbsp;

During a TV interview in 2015, Sanchez, who was then head of the opposition Socialists, said that if he learned that a top party official used a company to pay less taxes, he would fire them.

Huerta had already sparked controversy when he was appointed a minister after media uncovered a Twitter message from 2010 where he said he "hated" sports.

He adjusted his views, saying, "I am not athletic, I say this because of everything that has emerged.

"I don't like to practise sports, but I love sports.

"That doesn't mean anything. I will support and love sports and support all athletes because they are heroes and heroines," he added.

Huerta was one of just six men in Sanchez's government, among 11 women, the most of any administration in modern Spanish history.

He is well known in Spain having spent years as a presenter on popular morning television show "El Programa de Ana Rosa", which mixes celebrity gossip with politics and social issues.

Maxim Huerta, an award-winning author and television celebrity, evaded 218,322 euros ($256,462) in tax between 2006-2008 by using a shell company, the online daily El Confidencial reported

Spain's culture and sports minister Maxim Huerta resigned Wednesday after it emerged he has been fined for tax fraud, in a blow to the Socialist government that took over only last week. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ousted conservative Mariano Rajoy with a June 1 no-confidence vote in parliament sparked by corruption convictions against former senior officials of his Popular Party (PP). Sanchez won praise worldwide for appointing a cabinet made up mostly of women as well as for offering to take in a ship with 629 migrants aboard when Italy's populist government and Malta refused them safe port. But the string of positive press coverage ended Wednesday when online daily El Confidencial reported that Huerta, an award-winning author and television celebrity, evaded 218,322 euros ($256,462) in tax between 2006-2008 by using a shell company. A court last year ordered that he pay over 360,000 euros to the tax office -- the amount he tried to evade plus fines and interest payments, it added. "I am stepping down," Huerta told a news conference a week after he was sworn in on June 7, adding that the fine stemmed from a change in criteria used by the tax authority. According to Spanish media, Huerta's term in office is the shortest of any minister in Spain's modern history. "I have paid this fine twice," he said. "The first time to the tax office...and I am paying it for the second time here, conscious that innocence is not worth anything before this pack of hounds," Huerta added in a reference to a firestorm sparked by the fraud report. He said he was fully up to date with his tax payments and stressed he had decided to resign "autonomously". No tolerance The leader of anti-establishment party Podemos, which backed the Socialist party's no-confidence vote in parliament, had called for Huerta's resignation. "We will not back behaviours which remind us of the PP," Pablo Iglesias told journalists earlier Wednesday. "If Maxim Huerta tried to defraud the tax office, he should resign immediately, and if not, Pedro Sanchez should dismiss him." In a Twitter message after the resignation, Iglesias said the prime minister had initially backed Huerta but "Spain is no longer what it was". "As we said this morning, citizens no longer tolerate these things. I commend the government for hearing and rectifying," he added. The PP also demanded Huerta's resignation while centrist party Ciudadanos called on him to explain himself to lawmakers. Huerta will be replaced by Jose Guirao, who headed Madrid's Reina Sofia modern art museum between 1994 and 2001, the government said. 'Hated' sports During a TV interview in 2015, Sanchez, who was then head of the opposition Socialists, said that if he learned that a top party official used a company to pay less taxes, he would fire them. Huerta had already sparked controversy when he was appointed a minister after media uncovered a Twitter message from 2010 where he said he "hated" sports. He adjusted his views, saying, "I am not athletic, I say this because of everything that has emerged. "I don't like to practise sports, but I love sports. "That doesn't mean anything. I will support and love sports and support all athletes because they are heroes and heroines," he added. Huerta was one of just six men in Sanchez's government, among 11 women, the most of any administration in modern Spanish history. He is well known in Spain having spent years as a presenter on popular morning television show "El Programa de Ana Rosa", which mixes celebrity gossip with politics and social issues.

Spanish culture minister quits after 1 week on the job; accused of tax fraud

King Felipe VI on Thursday swore in Spain's new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers.

With just 84 seats in Spain's 350-seat parliament, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's administration also has the smallest representation of any government since the country returned to democracy and it is not expected to last until the end of its mandate in 2020.

The new executive composed by the 46-year-old, who ousted conservative veteran Mariano Rajoy as prime minister last Friday in a no-confidence vote, includes astronaut Pedro Duque as science minister.

EU budget manager Nadia Calvino became economy minister and former European Parliament president Josep Borrell foreign minister.

When Sanchez presented his cabinet on Wednesday evening he said it was "a reflection of the best in society" -- a society he described as composed of women and men, old and young, rooted in the European Union.

But as a minority government, it will have a tough time governing Spain, relying as it will on the votes of far-left party Podemos as well as Basque and Catalan nationalist lawmakers who supported his no-confidence motion.

Each new minister vowed to "faithfully fulfil the duties of minister... with loyalty to the king" at a ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace near Madrid.

Former judges, prosecutors

The new executive includes two veteran Socialists -- Carmen Calvo, vice-president, and Borrell.

Calvo, who was culture minister from 2004 to 2007, will also be in charge of equality, a priority for Sanchez's government in a country where women staged an unprecedented strike to defend their rights on March 8.

Anti-terror prosecutor Dolores Delgado became justice minister, former Supreme Court judge Margarita Robles defence minister, and other women have been put in charge of education, employment or health.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, an openly gay former judge at Spain's top-level National Court, where he took on cases against Basque separatist group ETA, heads up the interior ministry.

Women also lead the economic team of Sanchez's government, whose "main priority" will be to respect Madrid's deficit reduction commitments to the EU, the new prime minister has said.

Spain has promised to reduce its deficit to 2.2 per cent of GDP in 2018, thus finally going under the three per cent limit set by Brussels.&nbsp;

Calvino, the new economy minister, has 12 years of experience in high-level postings in Brussels.

Maria Jesus Montero, meanwhile, became budget minister after playing a similar role at a regional level in southern Andalusia.

In the name of maintaining "stability," Sanchez has also promised to implement the 2018 budget crafted by the previous conservative government.

Among the budget's key measures are a one to three per cent rise in the lowest pensions and a salary increase for civil servants, ahead of municipal, regional and European elections next year.

Catalans, astronaut, author

Sanchez's new team also includes a minister in charge of science, innovation and universities.

And the man to take that role is Spain's first astronaut Pedro Duque.

As Brexit gathers pace, and with Italy now led by a eurosceptic, populist government, Spain's new executive is distinctly pro-EU.

Apart from Calvino's appointment as an economy minister -- a move welcome by the EU Commission -- Borrell was European parliament president between 2004 and 2007.

A Catalan who is fiercely against the independence movement in his home region, Borrell will be tasked with defending his government's commitment to Spanish unity abroad.

He has said the previous conservative government was "very bad" when it came to public relations abroad on the Catalan separatist issue.

On a day-to-day basis, Meritxell Batet, another Catalan, has been put in charge of relations with Spain's regions.

As such, she will have the prickly task of trying to ease the situation in her own deeply divided home region.

Finally, Maxim Huerta, an award-winning author, became culture minister.

European Union budget manager Nadia Calvino became an economy minister and former European Parliament president Josep Borrell foreign minister

King Felipe VI on Thursday swore in Spain's new pro-EU government with a record 11 women members including in key posts such as defence and economy, and six male ministers. With just 84 seats in Spain's 350-seat parliament, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's administration also has the smallest representation of any government since the country returned to democracy and it is not expected to last until the end of its mandate in 2020. The new executive composed by the 46-year-old, who ousted conservative veteran Mariano Rajoy as prime minister last Friday in a no-confidence vote, includes astronaut Pedro Duque as science minister. EU budget manager Nadia Calvino became economy minister and former European Parliament president Josep Borrell foreign minister. When Sanchez presented his cabinet on Wednesday evening he said it was "a reflection of the best in society" -- a society he described as composed of women and men, old and young, rooted in the European Union. But as a minority government, it will have a tough time governing Spain, relying as it will on the votes of far-left party Podemos as well as Basque and Catalan nationalist lawmakers who supported his no-confidence motion. Each new minister vowed to "faithfully fulfil the duties of minister... with loyalty to the king" at a ceremony at the Zarzuela Palace near Madrid. Former judges, prosecutors The new executive includes two veteran Socialists -- Carmen Calvo, vice-president, and Borrell. Calvo, who was culture minister from 2004 to 2007, will also be in charge of equality, a priority for Sanchez's government in a country where women staged an unprecedented strike to defend their rights on March 8. Anti-terror prosecutor Dolores Delgado became justice minister, former Supreme Court judge Margarita Robles defence minister, and other women have been put in charge of education, employment or health. Fernando Grande-Marlaska, an openly gay former judge at Spain's top-level National Court, where he took on cases against Basque separatist group ETA, heads up the interior ministry. Women also lead the economic team of Sanchez's government, whose "main priority" will be to respect Madrid's deficit reduction commitments to the EU, the new prime minister has said. Spain has promised to reduce its deficit to 2.2 per cent of GDP in 2018, thus finally going under the three per cent limit set by Brussels. Calvino, the new economy minister, has 12 years of experience in high-level postings in Brussels. Maria Jesus Montero, meanwhile, became budget minister after playing a similar role at a regional level in southern Andalusia. In the name of maintaining "stability," Sanchez has also promised to implement the 2018 budget crafted by the previous conservative government. Among the budget's key measures are a one to three per cent rise in the lowest pensions and a salary increase for civil servants, ahead of municipal, regional and European elections next year. Catalans, astronaut, author Sanchez's new team also includes a minister in charge of science, innovation and universities. And the man to take that role is Spain's first astronaut Pedro Duque. As Brexit gathers pace, and with Italy now led by a eurosceptic, populist government, Spain's new executive is distinctly pro-EU. Apart from Calvino's appointment as an economy minister -- a move welcome by the EU Commission -- Borrell was European parliament president between 2004 and 2007. A Catalan who is fiercely against the independence movement in his home region, Borrell will be tasked with defending his government's commitment to Spanish unity abroad. He has said the previous conservative government was "very bad" when it came to public relations abroad on the Catalan separatist issue. On a day-to-day basis, Meritxell Batet, another Catalan, has been put in charge of relations with Spain's regions. As such, she will have the prickly task of trying to ease the situation in her own deeply divided home region. Finally, Maxim Huerta, an award-winning author, became culture minister.

Spain swears in new cabinet with record number of women

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Spanish culture minister quits after 1 week on the job; accused of tax fraud

Spain swears in new cabinet with record number of women