Tumult, change, and realignment in the Spanish system of political parties (1977-1993)

Abstract

During the democratic transition and consolidation in Spain, the configuration of political parties passed through various phases: during the first, pluralism was limited and moderate (the period of the first two general elections, in 1977 and 1979, and of the UCD government); in the second, one party predominated (after the PSOE' s triumph in 1982, and the reconfirmation of its absolute majority in the 1986 and 1989 elections); limited and moderate pluralism returned in the third phase (after the PSOE lost its absolute majority in 1993, and the right presented itself as a solid party, and a real alternative government). In the first phase, the most striking feature was the consensus between political forces and social agents. This made it possible to confront the economic crisis, settle structural reforms, and agree the political and legal constitutional framework. The system of parties was limited in respect of their numbers, and their real ideological positions were moderate. In the second phase, socialist hegemony took advantage of the right wing's crisis of identity, leadership, and organization. It confronted the economic crisis, and integrated Spain into the EEC and NATO. Cases of corruption were discovered and the political project was exhausted, on the one hand. The PP was restarted, its new direction was consolidated, and its political message became centrist, on the other hand. This led to the PSOE losing its absolute majority, and the Popular Party's predictable victory in 1996.