Spain's Transition to Democracy: UCD and PSOE Eras

Spain is now a democratic country and a member of the European Union. In light of recent Spanish history, both circumstances acquire a special significance. Spain seems to have solved the problem of governance, isolation, and backwardness. Both achievements have been achieved under the monarchy of Juan Carlos I. We have witnessed one of the most stable periods in contemporary Spanish history, where Spain has achieved its true political, social, and economic modernization.

The Government of the UCD

After the death of Franco, Arias Navarro attempted to reconcile continuity with reformism but lasted only a short time in office. Juan Carlos I made three major political decisions: to push for the resignation of Arias Navarro, to appoint Fernández Miranda as chairman of the courts, and to appoint Adolfo Suárez as Prime Minister. Suárez proposed to amend the regime from within, leading to a democratic system (this process would be done by legal means). The first step was the adoption in court, and after a referendum, the Law for Political Reform. This opened doors to a democratic regime, which encountered many problems (terrorism, pressure from the opposition, civil disorder, etc.). Suárez decided in April, taking advantage of the Easter holidays, to legalize the PCE and call constituent elections, where the UCD won the majority, with the PSOE as the main opposition party. This would lead to the Constitution of 1978 and the Moncloa Pacts, where all parties decided to fight inflation.

UCD Crisis

After the adoption of the Constitution, Suárez announced legislative elections for the establishment of the laws of the Constitution. The outcome of the 1979 elections was similar to that of 1977: a victory without an absolute majority for the UCD, and the PSOE emerged as the major opposition party. The legislative work of this government was not very intense, since difficulties hindered these efforts. The discrediting of Suárez began when the historical nationalities attempted to obtain their autonomy via the fast track. The referendum of Andalusia was Suárez's first major setback, to which we add the pressure of the government not having a majority, by the PSOE, as well as internal disputes within the UCD. Moreover, on the day of the inauguration of his successor, Calvo Sotelo, a coup d'état occurred, where the King had to intervene. Under Prime Minister Calvo Sotelo, Spain entered NATO, and the divorce law was approved. Calvo Sotelo called elections in October 1982.

The Governments of the PSOE

After the 1982 elections, the PSOE won by an absolute majority. The PSOE was not a single Marxist party, but rather opened to other progressive trends. Nor was it solely the party of the working class, but it also represented the middle classes, which was where the majority of its votes came from. All these changes led the PSOE to be in power for many years.

The PSOE was in power from 1982 until 1996. In the first elections, they won by an absolute majority, but the number of votes gradually decreased in subsequent elections.