Spain’s parliamentary life, which began following the elections of June 15, 1977, is the result of a political and social pact that Spain’s citizens wanted and managed to achieve. The Parliament Building was the venue from which an entire constitutional architecture was built aligning Spain with the most advanced democracies.
At the parliament, they were successful at discussing, negotiating, coming to compromises and agreements. All came to terms with one another and, among them all, something that seemed very difficult to accomplish at the time – building a social, democratic state ruled by law – was indeed built.
In the cloister of Avila’s cathedral lies the modest, simple tomb of the then president of the government, Adolfo Suárez. The epitaph inscribed on his gravestone reads: “La concordia fue posible” [Concord was possible].
The parliamentary session of February 23, 1981 was violently interrupted with the shattering sound of pistols and machine gun fire. Colonel Tejero was aiming to overthrow the government and hence to hold the Congress of Deputies hostage. It was an attempt to revert to the past. Those in attendance at the session were first dumbfounded and then left in a cliffhanging situation, following some news from the outside, as to knowing how that dramatic, grotesque spectacle might end.
Democracy was able to continue making its way. Laws were repealed, new codes were passes and economic and social pacts were reached. King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez played roles which turned out to be indispensable throughout this transition to democracy. Many other Spanish citizens also contributed.
Afterward, parliamentary life continued throughout some calmer or other tenser legislatures, but always with respect for representative democracy and the principle of the Congress and Senate being the representatives of the sovereignty of the people. Currently some are proclaiming that there are other better political systems which call for personalist leadership and ignore the very keystone of the democratic system; the separation of powers; others calling for the exaltation of sentiments they deem to be above legality. All of this would entail reverting to times which would be best not repeated according to what the history of Spain as well as European history teach us.
It is quite difficult to acknowledge one’s own successes, as there is an underlying pessimism that comes from long ago, but the date of June 15, 1977 will possibly go down in history as having changed Spain’s painful, dramatic path in the 20th century. And the people of Spain can be very proud of that change.
Soledad Becerril
Ombudsman
