SPANISH TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY in 70’s

The Spanish transition to democracy was the time when Spain moved from the dictator government of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition begins with Franco’s death on November 20, 1975.

The Green March was a strategic movement demonstration in November 1975, coordinated by the Moroccan government, to force Spain to hand over the disputed province of Sahara to Morocco. It happened before Franco’s death.

The death of Franco elevated Don Juan Carlos de Borbón to the throne. The first government of Juan Carlos was presided over by Carlos Arias Navarro in 1976. The new government had many difficulties. In the Basque Country, tensions increased. ETA continued its attacks.

In July of 1976 it’s the first government of Adolfo Suárez In July of 1976 it’s the first government of Adolfo Suárez. He wanted to create a liberal democracy in Spain. The democratic elections in June 1977 were to elect the members of a Court that would be charged with drawing up a new democratic constitution.

Communist Party of Spain (PCE-Partido Comunista de España): 9.4% The first elections were on June 15, 1977. There were four important political forces acting at the national level: Union of the Democratic Center (UCD-Unión de Centro Democrático): 31.1% Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE-Partido Socialista Obrero Español): 28.6% Communist Party of Spain (PCE-Partido Comunista de España): 9.4% Popular Alliance (AP-Alianza Popular): 8.5%

The “Cortes” began to write a constitution in the summer of 1977 The “Cortes” began to write a constitution in the summer of 1977. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 went on to be approved in a referendum on the December 6, 1978.