Silences, Pacts and Freedoms: 50 Years of the Spanish Transition

With PABLO PÉREZ, Full Professor of Contemporary History

The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of a milestone that changed the course of Spain: the Political Reform Law of 1976. In this episode, we explore how this legislative text gave way to the institutional start of the Transition. We do so with Pablo Pérez, Full Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Navarra.

Join us to go through the background of this episode; to learn about the debates that took place in the Cortes; and to delve into the path that led us to the 1978 Constitution. 

Lessons learned from this episode:

• The Political Reform Act (1976): origin and function

• The role of Adolfo Suárez and King Juan Carlos I

• The legal paradox: Franco's regime giving way to democracy

• Social expectations and collective fears after Franco's death

• The December 1976 referendum

• Legalization of parties and political pluralism

• From the Law to the Constitution of 1978: evolution of the process

• Tensions, resistance and agreements during the Transition

• The Transition as a generational and cultural change

• Lessons from the Transition for the present

 Listen to it on Spotify