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TRANSITION AND DEMOCRACY

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Transition and democracy.

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After the death of Franco, Juan Carlos I was crowned in 1976.

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Juan Carlos I appointed Adolfo Suárez as president.

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With his reforms, Spain could once again become a democratic country.

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His reforms included political parties and labor unions were legalized,

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political prisoners were released, people initially returned to Spain,

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and the first democratic elections since 1936 were held.

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Elections took place in 1977 and the UCD was elected, the party led by Suárez.

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After the 1977 elections, representatives of the major political parties wrote a constitution

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which was approved by Parliament.

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In 1978, Spaniards voted in favor of the constitution in a referendum.

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The constitution established that Spain is a democratic country

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whose national sovereignty resides with the Spanish people,

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with a parliamentary monarchy as a form of government.

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It also guarantees citizen rights such as equality under the law,

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freedom of expression and the right to vote for citizens over 18 years of age.

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New elections were held in 1979 and the party of Adolfo Suárez.

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UCD won again.

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During his mandate, Spain suffered a serious economic crisis

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and terrorists attacked by the ETA were frequent.

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Suárez resigned as president.

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In 1981, Parliament was voting to elect Leopoldo Calvo Soleto as the new president.

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A small group of military officers led by Colonel Antonio Tejero attacked a coup.

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However, Tejero did not have support from political parties.

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The people or the king and the coup failed.

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Since 1981, several presidents have headed the Spanish government.

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Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, UCD

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Felipe González, PSOE

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José María Aznal, PP

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José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, PSOE

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Mariano Rajoy, PP

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Pedro Sánchez, PSOE

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is the current president of Spain.