Restoration of democracy Spain

federica montseny speaks @ meeting of cnt in barcelona in 1977 after 36 years of exile.

in 1962, group of politicians involved in opposition franco s regime inside country , in exile met in congress of european movement in munich, made resolution in favour of democracy.

with franco s death in november 1975, juan carlos succeeded position of king of spain , head of state in accordance franquist law. approval of new spanish constitution of 1978 , restoration of democracy, state devolved authority regions , created internal organisation based on autonomous communities. spanish 1977 amnesty law let people of franco s regime continue inside institutions without consequences, perpetrators of crimes during transition democracy massacre of 3 march 1976 in vitoria or 1977 massacre of atocha. founding chairman of current leading political party in spain, people s party, manuel fraga had been minister in franco s government , yet continued political career until shortly before death in 2012.

in basque country, moderate basque nationalism has coexisted radical nationalist movement led armed terrorist organisation eta. group formed in 1959 during franco s rule has continued wage violent campaign after restoration of democracy , return of large measure of regional autonomy.

on 23 february 1981, rebel elements among security forces seized cortes in attempt impose military-backed government. king juan carlos took personal command of military , ordered coup plotters, via national television, surrender.

josé maría aznar, jordi pujol, felipe vi , adolfo suárez in 1990s

during 1980s democratic restoration made possible growing open society. new cultural movements based on freedom appeared, la movida madrileña , culture of human rights arose gregorio peces-barba. on 30 may 1982 spain joined nato, following referendum after strong social opposition. year spanish socialist workers party (psoe) came power, first left-wing government in 43 years. in 1986 spain joined european economic community, later became european union. psoe replaced in government partido popular (pp) in 1996 after scandals around participation of government of felipe gonzález in dirty war against eta; @ point psoe had served 14 consecutive years in office.

on 1 january 2002, spain adopted euro, , spain experienced strong economic growth, above eu average during 2000s. however, well-publicised concerns issued many economic commentators @ height of boom warned extraordinary property prices , high foreign trade deficit lead painful economic collapse.

spain has been member of european union since 1986.

in 2002 prestige oil spill occurred big ecological consequences along spain s atlantic coastline. in 2003 josé maría aznar supported president george w. bush in iraq war, , strong movement against war rose in spanish society. on 11 march 2004 local islamist terrorist group inspired al-qaeda carried out largest terrorist attack in spanish history when killed 191 people , wounded more 1,800 others bombing commuter trains in madrid. though initial suspicions focused on basque terrorist group eta, evidence emerged indicating islamist involvement. because of proximity of 2004 election, issue of responsibility became political controversy, main competing parties pp , psoe exchanging accusations on handling of incident. elections on 14 march won psoe, led josé luis rodríguez zapatero.

puerta del sol square in madrid, shown here on 20 may 2011, became focal point , symbol during protests.

the proportion of spain s foreign born population increased rapidly during economic boom in 2000s, declined due financial crisis. in 2005 spanish government legalised same sex marriage. decentralisation supported resistance of constitutional court , conservative opposition, did gender politics quotas or law against gender violence. government talks eta happened, , group announced permanent cease of violence in 2010.

the bursting of spanish property bubble in 2008 led 2008–16 spanish financial crisis , high levels of unemployment, cuts in government spending , corruption in royal family , people s party served backdrop 2011–12 spanish protests. catalan independentism on rise. in 2011, mariano rajoy s conservative people s party won election 44.6% of votes, , rajoy became spanish prime minister, after having been leader of opposition 2004 2011, , continued implement austerity measures required eu stability , growth pact. on 19 june 2014, monarch, juan carlos, abdicated in favour of son, became felipe vi.

a catalan independence referendum held on 1 october 2017 , then, on 27 october, catalan parliament voted unilaterally declare independence spain form catalan republic on day spanish senate discussing approving direct rule on catalonia called spanish prime minister. later day senate granted power impose direct rule , mr rajoy dissolved catalan parliament , called new election. no country has recognised catalonia separate state.