Post by pigeonpie on Oct 17, 2008 22:45:09 GMT
First of a four part series covering the transition era in Spain and Menorca
The hour of Spain’s “Fathers of Democracy” (1975-1978)
Constitution Day this year (6th December) marks the 30th anniversary of public approval (via a referendum) of the Spanish constitution, which came into effect on 29th December 1978
Headlines. The diario “Menorca’s” front page in November 1975
Frederik Naumann Sant Lluís
It was 0605 hrs. in the morning of 20th November 1975 when León Herrera, then Spain’s Minister for Information and Tourism, broadcast the news which was to become synonymous for the dawn of a new era in Spanish history: Francisco Franco Bahamonde, the ‘Generalissimo’ and ‘Caudillo’ who had ruled the country for almost 40 years, had passed away the same morning, only two weeks short of his 83rd birthday.
Whilst Franco’s death is still widely considered as the real starting point of “La Transición”, Spain’s peaceful transition to democracy, a silent change had in fact started well before. Back in July 1969 Franco had nominated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón as his successor (a move intended to ensure the regime’s continuation, although Juan Carlos soon turned out to be committed to democratic change), and in June 1973 he had appointed Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco as Prime Minister, trusting that this faithful ally would guarantee the preservation of Francoism and block liberalisation attempts after the ‘Caudillo’s’ own death.
Franco’s plans for the era after his demise were seriously *hattered when the ETA terrorist group assassinated Admiral Carrero Blanco a few months after his nomination, on 20th December 1973. He was replaced as Prime Minister by Carlos Arias Navarro, a hard-line Francoist who, despite his convictions, soon went further in the direction of change than Carrero Blanco had ever done. Wildly oscillating between his own authoritarian instincts and the liberal ideas brought on him by some of his more progressive ministers, Arias led Spain some way towards a gradual opening up, for example through the ‘political associations’ – which were to become the first step towards parties – in 1975.
Yet, the most significant reforms started only after Franco’s death. Two days thereafter Juan Carlos was formally proclaimed King of Spain. Less than two weeks later, on 3rd December, another ‘father of democracy’ took office: Torcuato Fernández-Miranda, a renowned jurisprudent and close advisor of the King, took over from his predecessor Alejandro Rodríguez de Valcárcel as President of the Cortes and the Consejo del Reino – a powerful post under the Franco constitution. Rodríguez de Valcárcel’s term had elapsed a few days after Franco’s death, a coincidence which proved crucial for “La Transición” as it gave King Juan Carlos the opportunity to install a trusted ally (as well as experienced politician) as President of the Cortes.
Despite the important changes of November and December 1975 many Spaniards remained disappointed with the slow progress towards liberalisation seen during the first half of 1976. Carlos Arias Navarro, who had been retained as Prime Minister after Franco’s death, did everything to block liberation attempts. In a speech in February 1976 he revealed his real intentions: “What I want to do is to continue Francoism. … I will fight against the enemies of Spain who have begun to dare to raise their heads and are just a hidden and clandestine minority”.
Spain’s move towards democracy gained speed only after the King had managed to replace the authoritarian Arias with Adolfo Suárez who took office as the new Prime Minister on 3rd July 1976. Many commentators predicted that his government would be short-lived – a prognosis which Suárez, a highly important driver of change, soon refuted.
Read more on this article
The hour of Spain’s “Fathers of Democracy” (1975-1978)
Constitution Day this year (6th December) marks the 30th anniversary of public approval (via a referendum) of the Spanish constitution, which came into effect on 29th December 1978
Headlines. The diario “Menorca’s” front page in November 1975
Frederik Naumann Sant Lluís
It was 0605 hrs. in the morning of 20th November 1975 when León Herrera, then Spain’s Minister for Information and Tourism, broadcast the news which was to become synonymous for the dawn of a new era in Spanish history: Francisco Franco Bahamonde, the ‘Generalissimo’ and ‘Caudillo’ who had ruled the country for almost 40 years, had passed away the same morning, only two weeks short of his 83rd birthday.
Whilst Franco’s death is still widely considered as the real starting point of “La Transición”, Spain’s peaceful transition to democracy, a silent change had in fact started well before. Back in July 1969 Franco had nominated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón as his successor (a move intended to ensure the regime’s continuation, although Juan Carlos soon turned out to be committed to democratic change), and in June 1973 he had appointed Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco as Prime Minister, trusting that this faithful ally would guarantee the preservation of Francoism and block liberalisation attempts after the ‘Caudillo’s’ own death.
Franco’s plans for the era after his demise were seriously *hattered when the ETA terrorist group assassinated Admiral Carrero Blanco a few months after his nomination, on 20th December 1973. He was replaced as Prime Minister by Carlos Arias Navarro, a hard-line Francoist who, despite his convictions, soon went further in the direction of change than Carrero Blanco had ever done. Wildly oscillating between his own authoritarian instincts and the liberal ideas brought on him by some of his more progressive ministers, Arias led Spain some way towards a gradual opening up, for example through the ‘political associations’ – which were to become the first step towards parties – in 1975.
Yet, the most significant reforms started only after Franco’s death. Two days thereafter Juan Carlos was formally proclaimed King of Spain. Less than two weeks later, on 3rd December, another ‘father of democracy’ took office: Torcuato Fernández-Miranda, a renowned jurisprudent and close advisor of the King, took over from his predecessor Alejandro Rodríguez de Valcárcel as President of the Cortes and the Consejo del Reino – a powerful post under the Franco constitution. Rodríguez de Valcárcel’s term had elapsed a few days after Franco’s death, a coincidence which proved crucial for “La Transición” as it gave King Juan Carlos the opportunity to install a trusted ally (as well as experienced politician) as President of the Cortes.
Despite the important changes of November and December 1975 many Spaniards remained disappointed with the slow progress towards liberalisation seen during the first half of 1976. Carlos Arias Navarro, who had been retained as Prime Minister after Franco’s death, did everything to block liberation attempts. In a speech in February 1976 he revealed his real intentions: “What I want to do is to continue Francoism. … I will fight against the enemies of Spain who have begun to dare to raise their heads and are just a hidden and clandestine minority”.
Spain’s move towards democracy gained speed only after the King had managed to replace the authoritarian Arias with Adolfo Suárez who took office as the new Prime Minister on 3rd July 1976. Many commentators predicted that his government would be short-lived – a prognosis which Suárez, a highly important driver of change, soon refuted.
Read more on this article
