Spain’s Political Leaders: Franco Era to Democracy
Key Figures in Spain’s Modern Political History
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado
A Lieutenant General and a key military figure during Spain’s transition to democracy. As First Vice President of the Government for Defense Affairs (appointed by Adolfo Suárez in 1976), he played a crucial role in military reforms, including repealing the outdated military ordinances of Carlos III and replacing them with new ones. He is famously remembered for his courageous confrontation with Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero and other coup plotters when they stormed the hemiciclo (chamber) of the Cortes during the 23-F coup attempt in 1981. Alongside figures like Cardinal Tarancón and Santiago Carrillo, he contributed significantly to the political transition’s success and its acceptance within military ranks.
Antonio Tejero
Antonio Tejero Molina joined the Civil Guard in 1951. In 1978, he published a letter in the newspaper El Imparcial, expressing his disagreement with the Spanish Constitution. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Guard, he was one of the main leaders of the failed 23-F coup attempt in 1981, during which he and his forces stormed the Congress of Deputies. He was subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced for his participation. On December 3, 1996, he received provisional release.
Adolfo Suárez González
A Spanish politician and a pivotal figure in the Spanish democratic transition. He began his political career as civil governor of Segovia in 1968. In 1975, he participated in the founding of the Unión Democrática del Pueblo Español (UDPE), a group he would later preside over. After Franco’s death, King Juan Carlos I appointed him Prime Minister in July 1976, replacing Carlos Arias Navarro. Suárez initiated crucial political reforms, including a dialogue with various political forces, and legalized the Socialist (PSOE) and Communist (PCE) parties, paving the way for the first democratic elections in 1977, which his party, the Unión de Centro Democrático (UCD), won.
Santiago Carrillo Solares
Initially following his father’s footsteps, Santiago Carrillo joined the Young Socialists, becoming its general secretary in 1934. He worked as a journalist for El Socialista starting in 1928. In 1936, he promoted the unification of the socialist and communist youth organizations to form the Juventudes Socialistas Unificadas (JSU). During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), he was a prominent member of the Junta de Defensa de Madrid. He later became the Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) from 1960 to 1982 and played a significant, albeit controversial, role in the democratic transition, particularly in the legalization of the PCE.
Manuel Fraga Iribarne
A Spanish conservative politician with an extensive career under both Franco’s regime and in the subsequent democracy. He served as Minister of Information and Tourism under Franco (1962-1969). After Franco’s death, he was a co-founder of Alianza Popular (AP) in 1976, which later evolved into the Partido Popular (PP), a major force in Spanish politics. Fraga also served as president of the autonomous community of Galicia from 1990 to 2005. During the Franco era, he also held positions such as Secretary of the Institute of Hispanic Culture and was appointed Secretary of the National Council of Education.
Felipe González Márquez
(Born 1942 in Seville) Felipe González joined the Socialist Youth (Juventudes Socialistas) and later the PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español). He worked as a labor lawyer. He was appointed to the PSOE’s national committee at the Toulouse congress in 1970. In 1974, at the Suresnes congress, he was elected Secretary-General of the PSOE, using the pseudonym ‘Isidoro’, and led its renewal. During the democratic transition, he played a frontline role. González served as President of the Government of Spain from December 1982 until May 1996, for four consecutive legislative terms, overseeing significant modernization and Spain’s integration into Europe.
José María Aznar López
(Born 1953 in Madrid) José María Aznar became a member of Alianza Popular (AP) in 1979. He served on its executive committees in La Rioja and Castilla y León. He was a deputy for Ávila (1982-1986) and president of the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León for Alianza Popular (1987-1989). In 1989, Aznar succeeded Manuel Fraga as leader of the party, by then reformed as Partido Popular (PP), and initiated a profound renovation. Following the PP’s electoral victory in 1996, he became President of the Government. His presidency continued after another electoral victory in 2000, serving from May 1996 to April 2004.
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo
A Spanish politician who served as Prime Minister between February 1981 and December 1982. After Franco’s death, he became more active in politics. He joined Reforma Democrática (a party associated with Manuel Fraga) and was appointed Minister of Trade in the first government of the restored Monarchy (1975-1976). He resigned from this office to stand in the first democratic elections in 1977 and was a key figure in organizing the Unión de Centro Democrático (UCD), led by Adolfo Suárez, which won those elections. He succeeded Suárez as Prime Minister after Suárez’s resignation and notably handled the aftermath of the 23-F coup attempt and oversaw Spain’s entry into NATO.