Spain’s Democratic Transition: 1975-1979
Spain’s Democratic Transition (1975-1979)
Policy Options in 1970s Spain
Some defended a clear break from the Franco regime, while others advocated for a reform culminating in the democratization of the system. Others still were inclined to break with the dictatorial past and construct a new political system led by democratic forces.
The Arias Navarro Government
The Arias Navarro government began in November 1975. It incorporated reformers like Fraga Iribarne and José Maria de Areilza, signaling an expected acceleration of reforms that should lead to the gradual democratization of the Spanish political system. When Navarro presented his agenda before the courts, it emerged that he argued for the continuity of Franco, and his reformist approach was wholly inadequate. His proposal was simply a reproduction of the previous program, with few openings. He merely proposed some very restrictive laws on freedom of assembly and association, which did not contemplate the existence of political parties.
The Breakdown of Democracy
Coordination was a democratic proposal. They wanted a constitutional procedure that, through a provisional government and general elections, would lay the foundations of a new political system.
How Democratic Reform Was Carried Out
The diehards only accepted the continuity of the system and police repression while stimulating the action of paramilitary groups to silence the opposition (including the events at Montejurra). Reformers worked to move the government away from the diehards, with the approval of the monarchy. Their project sought to promote change by progressively reforming the political system from the evolution of laws and institutions under Franco. This forced the resignation of Arias Navarro, and Adolfo Suárez (belonging to the reformist movement) took over. He initiated contacts with the democratic forces and issued a pardon for political prisoners. He also proposed the Political Reform Act (which passed), recognizing the fundamental rights of individuals.
First Acts After the Political Reform Act
It paved the way for general elections. First, a series of decrees allowed freedom of association, the legalization of political parties (except the Communist Party), and a broad amnesty for political crimes committed during the dictatorship.
National Representation After Legalization
The impromptu party formed by the Prime Minister, called the Union de Centro Democrático (UCD), the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), and the Popular Alliance (AP) gained representation. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) in Euskadi and the Democratic Pact for Catalonia (PDC) also had a special implementation in their respective regions.
Legalization of the Communist Party
The PCE was legalized after right-wing gunmen killed five members of a firm of labor lawyers connected to the CCOO and the PCE. Over a million people went on strike, recognizing the PCE as a great symbol of the anti-Franco movement and the most organized party among the working and middle classes.
The 1977 General Election
The Union de Centro Democrático won the election by a simple majority.
The Pre-Autonomy Stage
This was the process of constructing the Autonomous State. It had two stages: the first was that of pre-autonomy, i.e., the granting of provisional autonomy to regions whose representatives requested it. The second was launched from the time of the final constitution of the autonomous regulations. The first pre-autonomy regime was granted to Catalonia (the Generalitat was restored). It was also granted to the Basque Country and Galicia.
Impact of the International Crisis of the 1970s
There was a process of inflation and a loss of competitiveness. Inflation brought down exports, the trade deficit doubled, and the depreciation of the peseta favored the maintenance of exports. Tourism receipts and foreign capital investment alleviated the severity of the deficit during the first years. The energy crisis resulted in a strong industrial crisis, and unemployment rose.
Government Pledges in the Moncloa Pacts
- Politics: A regulation of public life in accordance with democratic principles (freedom of expression, assembly, and association, reform of the penal code and code of military justice) found their manifestation in the Constitution.
- Economy: The reduction of inflation and implementation of reforms to equitably share the costs of the crisis. To control prices and sharply devalue the peseta, a strategy to control public spending was created. A program to rationalize energy consumption and wage restraint was agreed upon. Unemployment insurance was extended to address unemployment, and the ultimate goal was the encouragement of a free-market economy.
Enemies of Democracy
The main threats came from the involution of military coups and terrorism. They organized demonstrations and violent groups, including groups of gunmen such as the Guerrillas of Christ the King, the Triple A, and the Spanish Basque Battalion. There were also some attempts at destabilization promoted by military groups, egged on by the right-wing press, such as the attempted coup known as Operation Galaxia.
The Constitution of 1978: A Result of Consensus
For the first time in Spain’s history, the drafting of the constitutional text did not respond to the unilateral imposition of a party but rather to the agreement and consensus among the most important parties. The writing was in charge of a paper in which the major congressional groups were represented.
Three Parts of the 1978 Constitution
- The dogmatic set of basic principles, fundamental rights, principles of social and economic policy, the guarantees of rights, and the mechanisms of suspension.
- The organic part develops the functions and mechanisms of key powers (legislative, executive, and judicial) with tax issues, territorial organization of the State, and the Constitutional Court.
- The last part refers to the system through which constitutional reforms can be established.
Ten Regulations in the 1978 Constitution
- The state is defined as a social and democratic rule of law, organized as a parliamentary monarchy.
- It recognizes the right to autonomy and self-government of nationalities and regions.
- The State does not define itself as Catholic. While expressing the importance of the Catholic Church, the state remains far removed from any denomination and is implicitly declared secular.
- Civil rights are recognized for all: freedom of association, assembly, and expression, the right to privacy, the right to honor, divorce, etc., and the death penalty is abolished.
- Equality of rights between men and women and non-discrimination on grounds of sex, religion, or race are established.
- Representative powers of the Crown are confined to issues, and it only holds the supreme command of the Armed Forces.
- Political representation is organized in General Courts consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Deputies.
- The division of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial) is established. Executive power is expressed in the Government, appointed and led by a president, incorporating the major powers. In turn, the president of the government must be elected by the deputies.
- The free market is recognized, but the state’s right to intervene in the economy and, if it is for the general interest, the expropriation of property and goods is also provided for.
- Teaching is considered a public service that the State must promote and control.