the cortes of castile and león appointed giménez as a senator on 22 march 2002. he later held the presidency of the senate of spain, between 16 october 2002 and 2 april 2004, before his party lost its absolute majority in both houses in the general elections of 2004. between 2004 and 2011 he was second vice president of the senate. on 12 december 2011, mariano rajoy proposed giménez to his party as deputy president of the senate of spain for the 10th legislature.