The Spanish Transition: From Franco to Democracy
Spain’s Transition to Democracy
The term “transition” refers to the period between the death of Franco in November 1975 and the establishment and consolidation of liberal democracy in Spain. The most surprising feature of the Transition was that it was done using the institutions Franco had created to perpetuate the Regime.
The Succession
In 1947, Franco issued the Succession Law. Spain was proclaimed a monarchy in which the King, after swearing the Fundamental Laws, could be appointed by Franco. In 1969, Juan Carlos was appointed. When Franco died in 1975, Juan Carlos was crowned King, with Arias Navarro as prime minister. By 1975, it was clear that the regime could not continue unchanged. Spain was the only country in Europe that was not a parliamentary democracy, which prevented Spain from becoming a member of the European Economic Community.
Political Changes Needed
Regarding political changes, Spain needed:
- The still illegal political parties wanted a break with Francoism and to set up a democratic regime from below.
- Protests from workers, students, nationalists, and intellectuals demanded amnesty for political prisoners, the legalization of political parties and trade unions, the dismantling of Francoist institutions and legal frameworks, and the summoning of free elections.
The Francoist old guard would not accept any reform and wanted “continuismo.” This was supported by most Army officers, who especially feared the breaking of the unity of the State and the legalization of the Communist party.
Part of the Francoists were in favor of some kind of political reform, as they were aware of the growing opposition to the regime. They thought the regime could not survive unless a certain degree of freedom and democracy was introduced.
Arias Navarro’s Government (1975-July 1976)
Juan Carlos confirmed Arias Navarro’s continuation in office as prime minister, disappointing those who were hoping for liberal reforms. The hopes and expectations aroused by the long-awaited death of Franco were frustrated in the initial months of the monarchy, and a wave of demonstrations, industrial strikes, and terrorist activity challenged the country’s stability. The government responded with repressive measures to restore law and order. Constant demonstrations were followed by brutal repression (Gasteiz, March 1976: 5 dead and thousands of wounded).
Adolfo Suarez’s Government
Arias Navarro could not cope with the growing unrest, and the King dismissed him. The King chose Adolfo Suarez as prime minister in July 1976. Both worked out the strategy for a smooth transition from within the regime, and the democratization process was controlled from above.
The Law of Political Reform
The first steps were the legalization of political parties and an amnesty. But the most important moment was the proposal of the Law of Political Reform (1976). It granted sovereignty to the people, fundamental individual rights, and declared that the right to make laws was in the Cortes, which were to be elected through universal suffrage. This law was approved by the Francoist Cortes, although it meant their own dissolution. To convoke elections, it was necessary to put an end to the Francoist Cortes; this Law abolished those Cortes.
In the first six months of 1977, significant changes were made. There were further amnesties for political prisoners, independent trade unions replaced vertical syndicates, and the right to strike was restored. The legalization of political parties began in February.
Elections were convoked in June 1977, after trade unions and the PCE were legalized. UCD won, and the second was the PSOE. Another feature was the important representation of nationalist parties.
The period 1977-1979 is marked by “consensus politics,” that is, a high degree of cooperation between the government and the opposition in order to lay the foundations of the new regime. The main tasks were the drafting of a Constitution and taking measures to fight the serious economic crisis. Both tasks were achieved through compromise and negotiation among all forces—the drafting of the Constitution and the Moncloa Pacts.
1979 Constitution
Statute of Gernika
The Moncloa Pacts
In 1977, the economic situation was about to burst out.
1973 Prices rose. The return to democracy coincided with an explosive quadrupling of oil prices, which had an extremely serious effect on the economy because Spain imported 70% of its energy. Spanish exports could not balance the growing cost of imports. Foreign debt had risen to 14,000 million dollars; the inflation rate was 44%; industries were indebted and had big losses; unemployment figures were rising; and there were strikes.
It was apparent that austerity would have to be taken, and Suarez knew he needed to gain support for a national economic recovery program. This was achieved in October 1977 in the Moncloa Pacts, named for the prime minister’s official residence where leaders of Spain’s major political parties and the two leading trade unions, CCOO and UGT, met and agreed to share the cost of, and the responsibility for, economic reforms. Parties of the left were promised an increase in unemployment benefits and the creation of new jobs. In return, they agreed to further tax increases, credit restrictions, reductions in public expenditures, and a 20% wage increase. The working class would bear the cost of the economic crisis, and unions appeared prepared to make sacrifices in order to consolidate democracy.
In 1981, Suarez resigned. While in the congress of the deputies, the election to name the new PM, Carlos Otelo, was taking place, Tejero stormed the congress of deputies. The military coup did not succeed. In 1981, PSOE with Felipe Gonzalez won the elections, and in 1985, Spain became a member of the EU.