| 1975 | Arias Navarro, Franco's last prime minister, at first remains in office but resigns at the beginning of 1976 under the pressure of public opinion, which demands a return to democracy, and at the king's request. |
| 1976 | Arias is succeeded as prime minister by Adolfo Suárez, secretary general of the Movimiento Nacional. In spite of this background he gives a decisive impulse to democratisation.
The withdrawal of the last troops from the former province of Spanish Sahara marks the end of Spanish colonial rule (January 12th). Treaty of friendship with the United States: Spain is now in practice integrated into the NATO defence system (June).
Two thirds of the country's political prisoners are freed under an amnesty (August 2nd) |
| 1977 | Resumption of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union (February 9th). Dissolution of the Movimiento Nacional and legalisation of the Communist Party (PCE; April). the first democratic election since 1936 is held on June 15th. the new Cabinet, headed by Suárez, consists almost exclusively of members of the UCD (Unión del Centro Democrático; July 4th).
Spain applies formally for membership of the European community (July). In order to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment the peseta is devalued by 20% against the US dollar; price controls and measures to promote employment are introduced at the same time (July 24th) |
| 1978 | Spain joins the Council of Europe (February 24th).
Amalgamation of the first socialist parties (April 30th).
There is a further wave of violence by Basque separatists.
After a plebiscite on December 6th-7th a new democratic constitution comes into force: constitutional monarchy, abolition of the death penalty, reintroduction of civil marriage (with the possibility of divorce). |
| 1979 | In the second parliamentary election since the liberalisation of the country (March 2nd) the UCD, led by Prime Minister Suárez, maintain their lead over the Socialists. The Basque provinces elect members associate with the extreme separatists leading high military officers to express alarm and utter threats.
Free local government elections are held for the first time since the Civil War.
In referendums held in October, Basques and Catalans approve measures giving them wide powers of regional self-government. In November, Parliament, by a majority, adopts charters of autonomy for Basque country (charter of Guernica) and Catalonia (charter of Sau). |
| 1980 |
Regional parliaments are elected in the Basque country and Catalonia. Other religions seek charters of autonomy.
A law on freedom of religion comes into force: Catholicism is no longer the state religion. |
| 1981 | Prime Minister Suárez resigns (January 29th).
During voting on the appointment of Leopoldo Sotelo (UCD) as prime minister over 200 soldiers of the Guardia Civil force their way into Parliament and hold members prisoner for ten hours (February 23rd). Ina radio address King Juan Carlos condems this attempted coup. Calvo Sotelo is elected as head of government (February 25th).
Further terrorist attacks by ETA, aimed at securing the complete independence of the Basque region.
The two largest Spanish parties, UCD (the Union of the Democratic Centre) and PSOA (the Spanish Socialist Workers Party), join in the "Autonomy Pact", a plan to make Spain a largely decentralised state (August 2nd). |
| 1982 | Spain becomes the 16th member of NATO (May 30th).
A "law on the harmonisation of the auyonomy process", agreed between UCD and PSOE, is passed (June 30th).
Parliament is dissolved in August; the Socialist win the subsequent election (October 28th).
Pope John Paul II visits Spain (November).
The Socialist leader Flipe González becomes prime minister (December 1st). |
| 1983 | Dissolution of the UCD
State visit bt Prime Minister González to the United States, seeking economic aid for Spain (June).
Regional elections on May 8th, which confirm the Socialist party's increased support, mark the formal conclusion of the move towards autonomy. There are now seventeen " autonomous communities", each with a regional constitution and an elected representative body. |
| 1984 | Demonstration against Spain's membership of NATO and the IS military bases on Spanish soil (February 19th).
Differences of view in Brussels between EC conteries and Spain over Spanish membership of the Community.
Call for the union of the Basque provinces of Spain, southern France and the Spanish region of Navarre (June). |
| 1985 | The frontier crossing between Spain and Gibraltar is reopened after being closed for sixteen years. (February 5th).
A law treating the Muslim inhabitants of Melilla and Ceut, the Spanish enclaves in North Africa, as foreigners, who may be expelled to Morocco, comes into force and gives rise to denonstrations. |
| 1986 | Spain joins the European Community on January 1st.
An agreement between the Spanish government and the towns of Melilla and Ceuta makes provision for the more rapid grant of Spanish citizenship to the Muslim inhabitants of these places (February).
A national referendum shows a majority in favour of continued Spanish membership of NATO (march 12th).
In parliamentary elections on June 22nd the Spanish Socialist Workers party (PSOE) again wins a majority: Felipe González is re-elected prime minister for a further four-year term. |
| 1987 | In local governmentand regional elections in June the PSOA, which since 1982 has had an absolute majority in most regions, suffers significant losses.
An ETA bonb attack on a department store in Barcelona kills eighteen people (June 19th).
Spain signs the treaty banning nuclear wepons (November 5th).
A further ETA attack on a Guardia Civil barracks in Zaragoza leaves eleven dead (December 11th). All parties in Parliament except the radical Basque parties Herri Batasuna and Eusko Alkartauna sign a "State pact against Terrorism and Violence" which excludes any nedotiation with ETA. |
| 1988 | The withdrawal of American fighter planes from the Torrejón air force base is seen as a success for Spanish Policy.
Mrs Thatcher becomes the first British prime minister to visit spain (September).
At the turn of the year the conflict between the socialist goverment and UHT, a trade union which has been closely associated with the PSOE for more than a hundred years, becomes more acute. UGT accuses Prime Minister González of abondoning socialist ideals and calls for measures of social justice and action to reduce high unemployment. In december UGT and the communist workers' committee call a general strike. |
| 1989 | Spain takes over the predidency of the European Community.
Negotiations between the trade unions and the government to settle the conflict mkaes no prgress.
Discussions, in progess since January, between ETA leaders and the government in Algiersm to which the ETA representatives have been expelled from France, end without result. ETA calls off the ceasefire to which it had agreed, and this is followed by several bomb attacks on railway lines. The government, with the support of almost all parties, declares that it is no longer prepared to negotiate with ETA.
Camilo José Cela is awarded the Nobel Prize for literature (October).
In a parliamentary election in october the González government loses its absolute majority, but Felipe González remains prime minister. The main gainer in the election is the Izquiera Unida (United Left), which increases its representation fron seven to eightenn seats, while the conservatives stagnate (PP) or lose seats (CDS). |
| 1990 | The Basque regional Parliament passes a resolution stressing the right of self-determination of the Basques and of freedom of power. |
| 1991 | In country-wide local and regional elections the PSOE records modest success but loses a number of strongholds. The Conservatives make considerable gains at the expense of the centre parties.
The ETA carries out several attacks during the run-up to the Olympic Games and the International Exhibition. In one bombing attack in May on the Guardia-Civil barracks near barcelona nine people are killed. |
| 1992 | Spain celebrates the 500th anniversary of the voyage of discovery of Columbus. From April 20th until October 12th EXPO '92 is held in Seville, the last world exhibition in the 20th c. to mark the occasion Spain's first high speed train "AVE" comes into operation on the route between Seville and Madrid. OnJuly 25th the 25th Summer Olympic Games of modern times are opened in Barcelona.
In February a bomb attack by ETA claims five lives in Madrid. In march the French police arrest the three ETA leaders.
A tanker runs aground in December off the coast of La Coruña spilling 70,000t of oil which pollutes the Galician coastline. |
| 1993 | The continuous economic crisis causes Fleipe González to call early elections in which his party, the PSOE, loses its absolute majority. He forms a minority government with the support of the moderate Catalan and Basque regional parties.
Another ETA attack in May kills seven people. |
| 1994 | In January the trade unions call a general strike in protest at the restructuring of the employment market and the economic policy. Several cases of curruption bring about a government crisis in May. |
