Spanish Transition Notes (1975-1978) PDF

### III.- La Transición Española (1975-1978) y la Consolidación de la Democracia en España - Periods of Spanish history which help to contextualize the contents of this section: - **1936-1939:** Guerra Civil Española (Nationalist vs. Republican) - **1939-1975:** Dictatura de Franco...

### III.- La Transición Española (1975-1978) y la Consolidación de la Democracia en España - Periods of Spanish history which help to contextualize the contents of this section: - **1936-1939:** Guerra Civil Española (Nationalist vs. Republican) - **1939-1975:** Dictatura de Franco or Franquismo - **1975-1978:** Transición (transition from dictatorship to democracy) - **1978- Present:** Consolidation of Spain as a democratic state with a parliamentary monarchy. * This section will focus on the Spanish Transition (1975-1978) and the consolidation of Democracy. It will include the most significant events in chronological order, as well as the most important figures involved with these changes. #### Chronology of Events - **20 November, 1975:** Death of Franco - **22 November, 1975:** Juan Carlos I is proclaimed King of Spain - **3 July, 1976:** The King appoints Adolfo Suárez as Prime Minister, who leads the Transicion (process of transition from Dictatorship to Democracy). **Measures taken during the Transition to convert Spain to a democratic country** - **a.** Political prisoners from the Franco regime are released. - **b.** Political parties and labor unions are legalized. - **15 June, 1977:** The first democratic elections since the Second Republic are held. - Adolfo Suárez, candidate of the UCD (Union of the Democratic Center), wins the election and becomes the first president of the Democratic Spain from 1977 to 1981. - **6 December, 1978:** The Cortes elected draft and approve the Constitution which creates the following: - **a.** Equality of all Spanish people. - **b.** Separation of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial). - **c.** Establishment of the autonomies. - **d.** Establishment of a parliamentary monarchy. - **29 January, 1981:** Adolfo Suarez resigns for various reasons. Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo of the UCD (Union of the Democratic Center) becomes Prime Minister and governs from 1981-1982. - **23 February, 1981:** During the session for the investiture of Calvo-Sotelo, there is an attempt to stage a coup d'état known as *23F* headed by the Lieutenant Coronel Antonio Tejero which involves a group of Civil Guards who stormed the Spanish Parliament. - **1982:** New elections are held and are won by Felipe González, candidate of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers Party). - His mandate of 1982-1996 is a period of consolidation of the democracy and an increase in Spanish presence in international organizations such as the European Economic Community (1986). - Two highlights of this period are the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and the EXPO in Seville. - In 1992, Spain also joins the **NATO** (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), an alliance between North America and Europe for cooperation in defense and security. - **1996:** **José Maria Aznar from the PP (People's Party)** wins the general election. His period in office is from 1996-2004. - A period of strong economic growth, and in 2002 Spain abandons the peseta in favor of the Euro as its official currency. - Another significant event of his presidency is the Spanish involvement in the Iraq War. - **11 March, 2004:** Terrorist attacks in Madrid, several days before the election. Some believe that this event affected the election results. - **14 March, 2004:** José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) wins the election and governs from 2004-2011. - A significant event during his government is the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. - During his presidency in 2008, a significant economic crisis occurs. - **20 November, 2011:** General Elections are called and won by **Mariano Rajoy (PP).** - During his time as president (2011-2018), there were a number of significant events: - **1. October, 2017:** Catalonia attempts to secede from the rest of Spain via an illegal referendum. - **Abdication of King Juan Carlos I** in favor ofhis son, Felipe VI. - **May, 2018:** A vote of no confidence in Parliament forces the resignation of Mariano Rajoy and the appointment of Pedro Sánchez as president. - Pedro Sanchez wins the 2019 general election and is currently Prime Minister of Spain. *[Image of the Coat of Arms of Spain]*