The Democratic Transition and Governments in Spain (1979-2004)
1. The Transition to Democracy (1979-1982)
After the death of Franco in 1975, Spain began a transition to democracy. Following the approval of the 1978 Constitution, new elections were held in March 1979.
The Governments of UCD:
The Union of the Democratic Center (UCD) won the elections. However, internal disagreements within the party led to the resignation of Adolfo Suarez in 1981. On January 29, Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo was appointed as the new President.
On February 23, during Calvo Sotelo’s investiture in the Cortes, a military coup attempt was launched. Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero occupied the House of Representatives, while in Valencia, Captain General Milans del Bosch deployed tanks to the streets. General Alfonso Armada, along with some civilian support, sought to establish a military government.
King Juan Carlos addressed the nation on television, denouncing the coup and ordering the surrender of the military rebels. The coup’s failure marked the end of the military’s involvement in Spanish political life.
Following the coup attempt, thirty-three people were arrested and tried.
2. The Governments of the PSOE (1982-1996)
The electoral triumph of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) in 1982 inaugurated a period of government that profoundly transformed Spain. This period had both positive and negative aspects.
Positive Aspects:
- Integration into Europe
- Labor reform
- Expansion of education and healthcare
- Development of the Autonomous State
Negative Aspects:
- Industrial restructuring
- Economic crisis
- Government borrowing
- General strikes
- Political corruption
Felipe Gonzalez served as Prime Minister, while Alfonso Guerra was Vice President until his resignation due to a corruption scandal.
During this period, Spain achieved full membership in the European Economic Community (EEC). In 1991, the Maastricht Treaty was signed, transforming the EEC into the European Union and establishing the euro as the future single currency.
Initially, the PSOE government opposed Spain’s entry into NATO. However, in 1986, a referendum was held, and the result favored integration into the organization.
3. The Governments of the PP (1996-2004)
After its victory in the 1996 elections, the Popular Party (PP) came to power and remained in office for two terms.
In its first term, the PP governed with parliamentary support from Catalan, Basque, and Canary nationalist parties. In 2000, it won an absolute majority.
Economic Policy:
The PP government achieved economic success, including Spain’s participation in the eurozone. However, some measures, such as the privatization of public companies and the liberalization of energy markets, were criticized.
Domestic Policy:
Domestic policy focused on combating ETA terrorism. The assassination of PP member Miguel Angel Blanco in 1998 led to increased unity against terrorism. Measures such as the abolition of military service and the professionalization of the armed forces were widely supported.
Social and Cultural Policy:
Social and cultural policies generated opposition. The pursuit of productivity led to a worsening of labor conditions. However, progress was made in cleaning up Social Security and reaching a pact for the maintenance of pensions. Education reforms caused significant controversy.
International Politics:
Spain joined NATO’s military structure in 1997 and participated in the Kosovo war in 1999. The government’s involvement in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars generated mass protests.
The final years of Jose Maria Aznar’s government were marked by several crises, including the Prestige oil spill, the Yak-42 plane crash, and the Iraq war protests. These events contributed to the PP’s electoral defeat in 2004, just three days after the Madrid train bombings.