Career
He began his political career in 1986 when he was elected to the Spanish Senate. In 1996 he was elected to the Spanish Congress as a deputy for Lugo Province and was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008. He is a trustee of the Fundacion IDEAS, Spain"s Socialist Party"s think tank.
He was appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport in a cabinet reshuffle on 7 April 2009, replacing Magdalena Álvarez.
On July 11, 2011 he was appointed spokesperson of the government without losing previous duties. On 28 December 2011 Spain"s Supreme Court opened a probe into his conduct on charges of influence peddling and accepting bribes.