Aznar had been expected to win so Zapatero was a "sacrificial candidate". A Prime Minister in his early 40's is pushing the limit but this guy acts with the maturity of someone in his early 20's.
HC gets it! Spain has been branded a cowardly state, deserving only our derision due to the socialist victory. In fact, it was a small percent (5-6%) who were swayed by the street demonstrations put on by the PSOE rabble - illegally, the night before elections - that put Zapatero in office.
Zapatero has gained tenuous control over a state left if good economic health, and widely respected by the free nations of the world. Lets see how long it takes for him to loot the treasury and lose the confidence of both those who voted him in and the world body politic.
My wife was there the month of March, and told me of overhearing three mid 20's females discussing their second thoughts while on a train trip. Seems they all got carried away with the street demonstrations and cast a shortsighted vote for PSOE. None apparently expected they would actually get what they voted for! It was just a protest in the heat of the moment. I am sure there are many who wish they could get a "do over".