Suárez Government: Key Policies and the Spanish Constitution
Adolfo Suárez’s Government: A Pivotal Era
The government of Adolfo Suárez began when the King appointed Adolfo Suárez as president. Despite initial skepticism, the new government successfully dismantled the structures and labor policies of the previous regime, ushering in democracy in Spain.
The Political Reform Act
The first significant step was the adoption of the Political Reform Act in November 1976 by the Francoist Cortes. This act created a bicameral Cortes elected by universal suffrage. In December, the government’s reform program was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum. Political parties began to emerge, with the PSOE accepting the monarchy in April 1977, and the PCE being legalized.
1977 General Election and Key Challenges
The general election on June 15, 1977, resulted in a victory for the Union of Democratic Center (UCD), led by Adolfo Suárez. Suárez faced three main tasks:
- Solving the economic crisis that had affected Spain since 1973.
- Approving a new constitution.
- Resolving regional issues.
Addressing the Economic Crisis
To tackle the economic crisis, Suárez introduced a Plan of Reorganization and Reform of the Economy, establishing a “social market economy.” To achieve consensus, he appealed to the opposition through the Covenants de la Moncloa, signed on October 25, 1977.
Drafting and Approving the Constitution
The second major task was developing a constitution with broad consensus and parliamentary approval. A commission was appointed, comprising representatives from all political forces, to draft the constitution. The bill was approved by Parliament with only two votes against and fourteen abstentions from Basque MEPs. The constitution was submitted to a referendum on December 6, 1978, and was approved by 88% of voters. It was then sanctioned by the King on December 27 of that year.
Spanish Constitution of 1978: Values and Principles
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is notable for:
- Its progressive character and ability to facilitate peaceful coexistence among Spaniards, planning for a better future.
- Its vagueness and ambiguity, which paradoxically allowed agreement between supporters of reform and those resistant to change.
Rights and Constitutional Duties
The constitution defined Spain as a “social and democratic state of law,” emphasizing:
- The civil liberties that must be respected and protected by the State, ensuring these freedoms are accessible to all.
- The right to a fair distribution of wealth to avoid significant disparities between rich and poor. All Spaniards are entitled to decent work, adequate training, and a sufficient pension in case of disability or old age.
- The right to participate freely in political life through political parties, associations, and elections.
- The state’s guarantee of freedom and equality, ensuring the absence of privilege and the fulfillment of duties and personal and collective responsibilities, such as paying taxes and being tolerant.
- The right to political pluralism, ensuring freedom of thought and expression and the multiplicity of political forces.
- Freedom of the market, allowing Spaniards the right to own property, create companies, and participate freely in markets.
- The right of citizenship, ensuring no Spaniard may be deprived of their nationality, a fundamental human right.
Institutions and Agencies of the Spanish State
- The Crown: The King is the Head of State, symbolizing the unity of Spain and acting as an arbiter and moderator in the functioning of institutions. His role in international relations is also significant.
- The Parliament: Representatives of the Spanish people, consisting of two chambers: the Congress of Deputies and the Senate. It exercises legislative power and controls the actions of the Government. Any citizen can be elected as a deputy or senator.
- The Government: Exercises executive and statutory authority under the constitution and laws, composed of the president and ministers, with the possibility of one or more vice presidents.