Adolfo Suárez: Spanish First President of Democracy, by Cristian Moya Orts (2º C ESO)

Adolfo Suárez, the first President of democracy in Spain, was born in Cebreros (Ávila) on 25th of September 1932 and died on 23rd of March 2014 in Madrid, at the age of 81. Although away from public life since 2003 due to dementia and neurological illness, Suárez will always be remembered as one of the greatest architects of the Spanish Transition. However, he went down in history as the first elected president in Spain after 40 years of dictatorship.

Adolfo Suárez graduated in law in the University of Salamanca. After holding various positions within the structures of the Franco regime, Suárez was appointed civil governor of Segovia in 1968. A year later, in 1969, he was appointed Managing director of Spanish Radio Television (TVE), a position he held until 1973.

In April 1975 he was appointed deputy secretary general of “El Movimiento” and on 11th of December 1975 he was part of the first government of Arias Navarro, formed right after the death of Franco, as Minister Secretary General. However, this new conservative government, for many an extension of the recent ruling dictatorship, lacked sufficient support from the people and failed to undertake the reform process that the country needed. As a result, Arias Navarro resigned just after a few months as president (July 1976) and Adolfo Suárez was instructed Cabinet. During the next months, Suárez struggled to establish a democratic regime and organized meetings with the main political parties and leaders. The reform was passed by the General Courts and accepted by the Spanish population (after a referendum), who was willing to move towards democracy. In the end, on 15th of July 1977, the first elections took place in Spain after more than 40 years, since the outbreak of the Civil War (1936).

Suárez won the elections and became the first democratic president. Virtually unknown to most Spaniards, his appointment on July 3rd 1976 as elected president raised controversy and criticism. For conservatives, too young and inexperienced; for the opposition, too linked to the previous regime.

Finally, on January 29th 1981, Adolfo Suárez resigned, nearly five years after being appointed Prime Minister by the King. That same year, the king granted him the title of Duke of Suárez for his role in the transition.

“The future remains unwritten, for it is only the People who can write it.” 

Adolfo Suárez