José María Aznar López is a Spanish politician who served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He led the People's Party (PP) to victory in the 1996 general election, ending 13 years of Socialist rule. His tenure was marked by economic liberalization, privatization of state-owned companies, and Spain's formal entry into the Eurozone. After leaving office, Aznar has remained an active figure in international politics and academia.