Navarra's Amejoramiento of 1982: A Deep Dive

The Amejoramiento of Navarra (1982)

Source and Nature

Source: Primary; Nature: Political-legal; Status: Public.

The Amejoramiento (Improvement) is the final text approved by the Spanish government, the Courts of Spain, and the Council and Parliament of Navarra. It was enacted in August 1982, during the period when Spain was establishing different statutes of autonomy stemming from the 1978 Constitution. This Act contains a series of articles defining Navarra's status and powers.

• Article 1 defines Navarra.
• Article 3 sets out the objectives.
• Article 6 states that the rights and duties of Navarre are equivalent to those of the rest of Spain.
• Article 9 addresses the official languages.
• Article 10 names the provincial institutions.
• Article 11 addresses the statutory power of Parliament.
• Article 45 discusses the economic agreement.

Historical Context

Following the Spanish Constitution's approval by referendum in December 1978, Navarra needed to adapt its historical self-government to the new democratic circumstances. The Constitution recognized the right to autonomy for regions that desired it, establishing procedures for achieving this. It also recognized the historical rights of territories like Navarra.

The 4th transitional provision allowed for the possibility of Navarra becoming part of the Basque Autonomous Community. However, the initiative for this had to come from the Navarrese Parliament and be confirmed by a referendum. Most political representatives favored remaining a distinct autonomous community.

Negotiations began between the Provincial Government of Navarra and the government of the UCD (Union of the Democratic Centre). They agreed on the contents of a royal decree for the democratization of Navarra's institutions. This was enacted in January 1979, establishing the Parliament as a statutory body appointed by universal suffrage.

In April 1979, the first provincial elections were held. Citizens elected 7 members of the Provincial Council and 70 parliamentarians. These were the democratic organs of the transition, tasked with setting and agreeing upon the new legal framework for Navarra's self-government. In these first elections, the UCD obtained 20 MPs, the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) 15, UPN (Navarrese People's Union) 13, and Nationalists 20.