Spain’s Democratic Transformation: From Dictatorship to Freedom
Spain’s Democratic Transformation
The Franco Regime’s Final Years
Franco ruled Spain as a dictator until his death, presiding over a country that was slowly recovering until an economic development surge in the 1960s. Without altering its authoritarian regime, Spain attempted to adapt to international developments to gain recognition from other nations and ensure its internal stability. During the so-called “economic miracle,” popular mobilization demanding freedoms grew, while the regime offered no response other than tightening its repressive policies. The Franco regime was crumbling as the life of its founder was exhausted. This led to the Spanish Transition, which brought about freedom, the recognition of pluralism, and peaceful coexistence as basic values. This regime change was gradual, non-violent, and based on the agreement of the major political forces.
Arias Navarro’s Brief Tenure
Torcuato Fernández-Miranda was considered the ideal man for democratic reform. The King had to confirm Carlos Arias Navarro as President of the Government and comply with Fernández-Miranda’s appointment as President of the Cortes. The new Arias government aroused great excitement due to its composition, which struck a certain balance between Francoist orthodoxy, reformism, and neutralism. It also included aperturistas (reformers) like Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo. However, Carlos Arias was unable to make the changes announced by the King. This greatly displeased the opposition, who united in the “Platajunta.” A period of instability began, reflected in strikes and demonstrations that were suppressed with great severity. Carlos Arias presented his resignation to the King on July 1, 1976.
Adolfo Suárez: Architect of Democracy
Adolfo Suárez was appointed Prime Minister. King Juan Carlos I tasked him with forming the government. Suárez skillfully brought together social democrats, liberals, Christian Democrats, and others, effectively dismantling the Franco regime. On June 15, 1977, free elections were held. Adolfo Suárez emerged victorious at the head of a center-right conglomerate of formations, the UCD (Unión de Centro Democrático). The 1978 Constitution was subsequently approved. Suárez resigned on January 29, 1981.
Foundational Reforms and Challenges
In November 1976, the Francoist Cortes approved the Political Reform Act, which created a bicameral Cortes elected by universal suffrage. Political parties began to operate freely; the monarchy was easily accepted, and the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) and PCE (Communist Party of Spain) were legalized. The new government faced three major challenges: solving the economic crisis, approving the constitution, and resolving the regional problem, which was complicated by ETA terrorism. The first two were addressed through a “politics of consensus.”
The Moncloa Pacts and Economic Recovery
The subordination of economic issues to political ones had delayed the resolution of the severe economic crisis suffered since 1973. A recovery plan and economic reform were carried out, including tax reform, moderation of wage growth rates, and significant attention to the unemployment problem. On October 8 and 9, 1977, representatives of various parties met with the Prime Minister at the Moncloa Palace to discuss the agenda for economic consolidation and reform. A key aspect was the diagnosis of the economic situation, which was described as serious. Measures were taken that were necessary to reorganize and reform the economy. All political parties agreed on the need for a range of monetary, financial, and short-term measures to slow inflation and reduce unemployment. This agreement is known as the Moncloa Pacts, signed on October 25, 1977.
Crafting the 1978 Constitution
The second exercise in consensus was the development and approval by Parliament of a constitution. A commission was appointed to develop a blueprint, composed of representatives of all political forces of the nation. The Constitution was analogous to those of other European democratic countries. It recognized fundamental rights and civil liberties, enshrined parliamentary monarchy as the state’s political formulation, declared the state secular, and, notably, established the rule of autonomy versus the traditional centralized state.
Core Principles of the 1978 Constitution
- Recognition of fundamental rights and civil liberties
- Establishment of a parliamentary monarchy as the form of government
- Declaration of a secular state
- Implementation of autonomy for regions, moving away from a centralized state