Following the death of general Franco in 1975, with heralded the end of 36 years of crippilng dictatorship, Spain has become a parliamentary democracy. After Franco’s death, political parties were legalised, the Socialists in February 1977 and the Communists in April. The first general elections were held in 1979 and were won by the Union de Centro Democratica (UCD) led by Adolfo Suarez, who was largely credited with transforming Spain from a dictatorship into a democracy. Franco Adolfo Suarez

New Constitution The new Spanish constitution of 6th November, 1978, arguably the most liberal in western Europe.The most important task of the constitution was to devolve power to the regions, which were given their own governments, regional assemblies and supreme legal authorities.

Political System (after new constitution) General council of Judicial power The CongressThe Senate Legislative (Parliamen) Judiciary Executive

Parliament -The nacional parliament has two chambers, the lower of which is the Congress of Deputies and the upper the Senate. The Congress consists of 350 members representing Spain’s 50 provinces and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Members of Congress are elected by a system of proportional representation for four years. There are 254 members of the Senate who are elected directly by a first-past-the-post system. The Senate represents the 17 autonomous regions. The Senate has the power to amend or veto legislation initiated by Congress. -Under the law, the official result of a general election in Spain in made public five days after the vote. This allows sufficient time for recounts and disputed results, if necessary. After the members have been sworn in the king meets with the party leaders and asks one of them – usually the leader of the largest party – to form a government in Spain, which must then be ratified by parliament. The leader of the party of government becomes the president of Spain and has his official residence in the Moncloa Palace in Madrid. The Moncloa Palace The Congress of Deputies

Judiciary The Constitutional Court is responsible for ensuring that laws passed by parliament comply with the constitution and international agreements to which Spain is party. The Judiciary is independent of the government, with the highest legal body being the ‘General Council of Judicial Power’ which has 20 independent menbers and is headed by the presindent of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court