A Socialist Rule Government: Spain 1982-1996

The national elections of the 1980’s gave Spain its first Socialist government since the 1930’s. The Union of Democratic Center was badly defeated and went out of existence. The Socialist era was run by Felipe Gonzalez Marquez. He served as prime minister from 1982 to 1996. The Socialists retained control of the parliament in the elections held in 1986, 1989, and 1993, when finally after 1993 it was forced to rule in a minority government.

For much of the 1980’s Spain experienced a major economic revival. Gonzalez’s regime developed and implemented a pro-market economic plan. The plan required the privatization of state-owned industries. This encouraged the growth of small businesses whereby governmental regulations on companies were eliminated. The labor laws were relaxed. Cut backs were also made in the welfare programs. As a consequence of this economic plan, the economy boomed. Additionally, the government made provisions for potential job scarcity by raising worker’s pension and increasing unemployment insurance.

By 1986, Spain became actively involved in European affairs by increasing its ties with the rest of Europe. It joined the European Union in 1986. Also, the Spanish voters approved to keep their country in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. However, they required that they stay out of NATO’s military command structure. They refused to become a base for nuclear weapons. They also voted to reduce the number of United States troops in the country.

The European Union or EU was formed to boost relations between governments and strengthen trade and commerce between European countries. The idea of European countries coming together as a unified oneness, was developed since 1951 and was formerly known as the European Community. Their aim was to become an international and trading superpower. Today, there are 27 member countries in the EU, of which Spain joined in 1986. They have a single market and their own currency.

By the early 1900’s the Socialists rule began to decline. A worldwide recession affected Spain resulting in a weakening economy. Economic output sharply declined while unemployment rose drastically, by at least 20 percent. Compounded by social tension and terrorists’ acts of the ETA members, a separatist military group, Gonzalez began his fourth term as prime minister with a minority government. In the 1996 national elections, the Conservative Popular Party, led by Jose Maria Aznar defeated the Socialists.

Regardless of these economic and social set backs, Spain hosted the 25th Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. In addition to hosting the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Seville hosted Expo 92 and Madrid was identified as European’s Cultural Capital. Thus, culturally Spain developed a positive reputation for itself. Scientifically, the first Spanish space satellite was launched to investigate the development of lower cost space operating systems and a 780,000 year old humanoid fossil was found.