Spain’s Transition to Democracy (1975-1982)
The Death of Franco and the Rise of King Juan Carlos I
On November 22, 1975, two days after the death of General Franco, Juan Carlos de Borbón was proclaimed King of Spain, in accordance with the Organic Law of Succession. King Juan Carlos sought to limit the powers inherited from Franco’s regime. While he could not become President of the Government or Parliament, he retained influence in their appointments.
Pressures for Democratic Change
Several factors contributed to the growing momentum for democratic change:
- Popular Demand: A significant portion of Spanish society actively protested and demanded democratic reforms.
- International Pressure: The United States, the European Economic Community, and the Vatican exerted considerable pressure for Spain’s democratization.
Initially, King Juan Carlos retained Carlos Arias Navarro as President of the Government. Simultaneously, Torcuato Fernández Miranda was elected President of Parliament, a move permissible under Franco’s legislation, which facilitated the subsequent political shift.
The Appointment of Adolfo Suárez
Under pressure, Arias Navarro resigned in July 1976. King Juan Carlos I then appointed Adolfo Suárez as the new President. This appointment was met with skepticism from the opposition, who doubted Suárez’s commitment to reform. Conversely, hardliners within the Franco regime viewed Suárez with suspicion, fearing excessive liberalization.
Suárez initiated dialogue with previously illegal opposition parties and granted a partial amnesty to political prisoners. Crucially, he spearheaded the Political Reform Act, drafted by Fernández Miranda. This Act aimed to establish new courts and dissolve Franco’s existing court system. It was approved by Parliament in November 1976 and ratified by a public referendum.
The 1977 Elections and the Moncloa Pact
Following the political reforms, general elections were organized for June 15, 1977. A key issue was the legalization of political parties, including the Communist Party of Spain (PCE), which Suárez legalized on April 9, 1977. Major parties contesting the elections included the Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), People’s Alliance (AP), Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), PCE, Democratic Pact for Catalonia (PDC), and Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV).
The UCD, led by Suárez, won the election. Subsequently, the Moncloa Pact was signed by the parliamentary parties, addressing key political and economic challenges. Vice President Gutiérrez Mellado played a crucial role in maintaining stability within the armed forces, calming concerns among those resistant to change.
The 1978 Constitution
The 1978 Constitution aimed to establish a democratic framework based on three key principles:
- Drafting: A seven-member committee drafted the Constitution. The PNV abstained, considering the draft too radical.
- Parliamentary Approval: The Constitution was ratified by both the Congress and the Senate.
- Referendum: The Constitution was approved by a public referendum on December 6, 1978, despite a high abstention rate, particularly in the Basque Country, encouraged by nationalist forces.
The Constitution’s core pillars were the monarchy, a parliamentary system, and the decentralization of the state. It comprised two main parts: the dogmatic part (outlining fundamental rights and freedoms) and the organic part (defining the structure and functions of the state).
Post-Constitution Challenges
Following the Constitution’s approval, general elections were held in 1979, with the UCD retaining power but losing its absolute majority. Municipal elections, the first since the Republic, also took place that year, revealing a decline in UCD support and gains for leftist parties in major cities.
Several factors contributed to the UCD’s decline:
- Strong opposition from the PSOE.
- Economic difficulties stemming from the 1973 oil crisis, leading to rising unemployment, inflation, and an external deficit. The Moncloa Pact (1977) was a cross-party attempt to address these issues.
- Political violence from various sources:
- Right-wing terrorism: Groups like the Guerrillas of Christ the King and the Anti-Terrorism Liberation Groups (GAL) engaged in violence, including the Montejurra murders (1976) and the Atocha massacre (1977).
- Left-wing terrorism: Groups like GRAPO and ETA carried out numerous attacks.
- State security forces: Elements within the security forces, inherited from the Franco era, continued to engage in violence and repression, such as the events in Vitoria in March 1976.
- Internal divisions within the UCD.
Suárez resigned as President on January 28, 1981, and was replaced by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, whose election coincided with a coup attempt.