Spain’s Political Evolution & EU Integration: 1982-Present
The Alternation in Power (1982-Present)
In 1982, a new political era began with the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)’s electoral victory by an absolute majority and the collapse of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD). Simultaneously, the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) declined, People’s Alliance (AP) grew, and the nationalist parties, Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Convergence and Union (CiU), consolidated. The reasons for the Socialist victory can be attributed to social aspirations for change, cohesion around PSOE leader Felipe González, and his moderate agenda. Its objectives can be summarized as: liquidating the remnants of the Franco regime and advancing towards a “welfare state”.
The PSOE’s dominance was repeated in the 1986, 1989, and 1993 elections, although in the latter, the loss of an absolute majority forced them to compromise with the nationalists. Among the main actions of the Socialist government throughout its four legislatures were:
- Industrial restructuring
- Extension of the pension system
- Universal public healthcare
- Improved unemployment protection
- Educational reforms (LOGSE)
- Legalization of abortion
- Reform of the army
In foreign policy, NATO membership was ratified via a referendum, and the Treaty of Accession to the EEC was signed in 1985.
The Decline of the PSOE and the Rise of the PP
Several factors contributed to the decline of the PSOE:
- Criticism from union sectors regarding the economic policies (general strike of 1988)
- Strengthening of the opposition under the People’s Party (PP), led by José María Aznar
- Economic corruption scandals linked to the PSOE (Juan Guerra, Mariano Rubio, Luis Roldán, Filesa cases)
- The scandal of the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación (GAL), involving a “dirty war” against ETA
- Internal division between “reformers” and “Guerristas”
- Slowing economic growth
The PP Governments and the Euro
The PP won a tight victory in the March 1996 elections, finding itself obliged to agree with Catalan and Basque nationalists to form a government. In a context of economic recovery, they managed to meet the criteria for adopting the single European currency, the “euro”. Public enterprises were privatized, the liberalization of the energy market began, taxes were reduced, and there was strong job creation. In counter-terrorism policy, the fight against ETA was hardened by strengthening counter-terrorism agreements and international cooperation. Legal reforms were subsequently carried out that allowed the banning of Herri Batasuna, a political party that supported ETA.
The 2004 Elections and the Return of the PSOE
In a context of international crisis, economic growth and job creation continued above the European average. However, Aznar’s alignment with the war policies of US President George W. Bush, which led to the invasion of Iraq, provoked strong social protest. On the eve of the March 2004 election, polls predicted another victory for the PP, then led by Mariano Rajoy. But the terrorist attacks in Madrid a few days earlier (11-M) caused a significant social impact, reflected in high voter turnout that gave victory to the PSOE, led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. One of the first actions carried out was the withdrawal of Spanish troops sent to Iraq after the US invasion.
Foreign Policy: NATO and the European Union
Two highlights of this period regarding foreign policy were Spain’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a US-led military alliance, and the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU). In the first case, it was the government of Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo that promoted entry in 1981, with conditions being ratified by referendum in 1985 under the government of Felipe González. Moreover, EEC membership, supported by all political forces, also materialized under the Socialist government in 1985.