Adolfo Suárez

Adolfo Suárez González, 1st Duke of Suárez (Spanish pronunciation: [aˈðolfo ˈswaɾeθ]; 25 September 1932 – 23 March 2014) was a Spanish lawyer and politician. Suárez was Spain's first democratically elected Prime Minister since the Second Spanish Republic and a key figure in the country's transition to democracy after the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

For other people named Adolfo Suárez, see Adolfo Suárez (disambiguation).

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is González.

The Most Excellent The Duke of Suárez
Prime Minister of Spain
In office 5 July 1976 – 26 February 1981
Monarch	Juan Carlos I
Deputy	Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado
Preceded by	Fernando de Santiago y Díaz (ad interim)
Succeeded by	Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo
Minister-Secretary General of the Movimiento Nacional
In office 12 December 1975 – 6 July 1976
President	Carlos Arias Navarro
Preceded by	José Solís
Succeeded by	Ignacio García López
Director-General of the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation
In office 14 May 1969 – 25 June 1973
Preceded by	Jesús Aparicio-Bernal
Succeeded by	Rafael Orbe
Civil Governor of the Province of Segovia
In office 31 May 1968 – 7 November 1969
Preceded by	Juan Murillo de Valdivia
Succeeded by	Mariano Pérez-Hickman
Member of the Congress of Deputies
In office 22 July 1977 – 26 October 1991
Constituency	Madrid
Personal details
Born	Adolfo Suárez González (1932-09-25)25 September 1932 Cebreros, Ávila, Spain
Died	23 March 2014(2014-03-23) (aged 81) Madrid, Spain
Resting place	Cathedral of Ávila
Nationality	Spanish
Political party	CDS
Other political affiliations	FET y de las JONS (1958–1977) Union of the Democratic Centre (1977–1982) Democratic and Social Centre (1982–1991)
Spouse(s)	Amparo Illana Elórtegui ​ ( m. 1961; died 2001)
Children	María Amparo (1963–2004) Adolfo (b. 1964) Laura (b. 1966) Sonsoles (b. 1967) Francisco Javier (b. 1969)
Parents	Hipólito Suárez Guerra Herminia González Prados
Alma mater	Salamanca University
Occupation	Jurist
Signature

When Spain was still an autocratic regime, he was appointed Prime Minister by King Juan Carlos in 1976, hoping that his government could bring about democracy. At the time of his appointment, he was not a well-known figure, making many political forces skeptical of his government. However, he oversaw the end of the Francoist Cortes, and the legalisation of all political parties (including the Communist Party, a particularly difficult move). He led the Union of the Democratic Centre and won the 1977 general election. In 1981, he resigned and founded the party Centro Democrático y Social (CDS), which was elected to the Cortes numerous times. He retired from politics in 1991 and from public life in 2003, due to Alzheimer's disease.

Early life

Adolfo Suárez was the eldest son of Hipólito Suárez Guerra and Herminia González Prados (Ávila, 1910 – 18 July 2006), and the brother of Hipólito, María del Carmen (who is married to Aurelio Delgado Martín), Ricardo and José María.[1] He was born in Cebreros. He later studied law at Salamanca University.

Political career

Suárez held several government posts during the late Francoist State. He became the Minister Secretary General of the National Movement (Movimiento Nacional), a body that served as the sole political party in Spain for 38 years, a period that extended beyond the death of Franco in November 1975. At a rally just a month before Franco's death, Suárez was queried by the aging Caudillo on the political future of Spain and told him frankly that the Movement would not likely long survive Franco and that democratisation was inevitable.[2] Suárez was appointed as the Prime Minister of Spain by King Juan Carlos on 3 July 1976, a move opposed by leftists and some centrists given his Francoist history. As a nationalist, he was chosen by the monarch to lead the country towards a democratic, parliamentary monarchy without annoying the powerful conservative factions (especially the military) in the nation. Surprising many observers and political opponents, Suárez introduced Political Reform in 1976 as a first, decisive step in the transition to democracy (La Transición).

In 1977, Suárez led the Union of the Democratic Centre (Unión de Centro Democrático, UCD) to victory in Spain's first free elections in 41 years, and became the first democratically elected prime minister of the post-Francoist Spain.

Suárez's centrist government instituted democratic reforms, and his coalition won the 1979 elections under the new constitution. Less successful as a day-to-day organiser than as a crisis manager, he resigned as Prime Minister on 29 January 1981.[3] A month later, as parliament was taking a vote to confirm Suárez's replacement as Prime Minister Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, parliament was disrupted by the entrance of Lieutenant Colonel Tejero and his attempted coup.[4] The 23-F coup attempt ("El Tejerazo") shook the government, but was defeated. In 1982, Suárez founded the Democratic and Social Centre (Centro Democrático y Social, CDS) party, which never achieved the success of UCD, though Suárez and its party were important elements in the Liberal International, joining it in 1988, leading to it being renamed Liberal and Progressive International, and Suárez became President of the Liberal International in 1988.[5] He retired from active politics in 1991, for personal reasons.

Former Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez in Buenos Aires, 1981.

In 1981, he was raised into the Spanish nobility by King Juan Carlos of Spain and given the hereditary title of "Duque de Suárez" (Duke of Suárez), together with the title Grande de España (English: Grandee of Spain) following his resignation as Prime Minister and in recognition of his role in the transition to democracy. Suárez was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias a la Concordia in September 1996 for his role in Spain's early democracy. On 8 June 2007, during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections, King Juan Carlos appointed Suárez the 1,193rd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.[6] He was also a member of the Club de Madrid, an independent organization (based in Madrid) that is composed of more than 80 former democratic Prime Ministers and Presidents. The group works to strengthen democratic governance and leadership.[7]

Illness and death

Suarez's grave in the cloister of Ávila Cathedral

On 31 May 2005, Suárez's son, Adolfo Suárez Illana, announced on Spanish television that his father was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The announcement followed speculation about Suárez's health in the Spanish media. On 21 March 2014, his son announced that his death from neurological deterioration was imminent.[8] Suárez then died as a result of a respiratory infection on 23 March 2014 in a clinic in Madrid.[9] Suarez was given a state funeral and was buried in the cloister of Ávila Cathedral.

Pope Francis shared his condolences, saying: "In fraternal suffrage with you all, I make fervent prayers to the Lord for the eternal rest of this esteemed and feature figure of the recent history of Spain."

On 26 March 2014, the Spanish government decided to rename the Madrid-Barajas airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in honour of his service to the country.[10]

Family

Suárez married María del Amparo Illana Elórtegui in 1961.[11] She died from cancer on 17 May 2001. Their elder daughter, María del Amparo ("Mariam") Suárez Illana (1962–2004) was the mother of two children, Alejandra Romero Suárez (born 1990), herself the current holder of her grandfather's dukedom, and Fernando Romero Suárez (born 1993).

The duke's middle daughter, Laura, was born in 1966. Suarez' youngest daughter, María Sonsoles Suárez Illana (born in Madrid in 1967), became a TV news anchor for Antena 3 and married José María Martínez-Bordiú y Bassó de Roviralta (a nephew of Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, the son-in-law of Francisco Franco); the couple is without issue.

Suárez's eldest son, Adolfo Suárez Illana, was a politician, who now practises law and is heavily involved with the world of bullfighting and has two sons. Suárez had two more children, his daughter Laura and his son Francisco Javier; both remain unmarried.

Honours

Decorations

• Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain (1,193rd member, 8 June 2007).[12]
• Collar of the Order of Charles III (Posthumous, 24 March 2014).[13]
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (23 June 1978).[14]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (29 September 1973).[15]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (18 July 1969).[16]
• Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (1 April 1970).[17]
  • Commander's Cross (1 April 1967).[18]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit (1 April 1972).[19]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Cisneros (18 July 1972).[20]
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Yoke and the Arrows (4 July 1975).[21]
• Grand Cross of the Military Merit with White Decoration (14 September 1970).[22]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal) (20 April 1978).[23]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty (Portugal) (22 February 1996).[23]

Awards

• Gold Medal of Segovia (17 November 1969).[24]
• Gold Medal of Ávila (12 February 1981). Received on 9 June 2005.[25]
• Adopted Son of Ávila (12 February 1981). Received on 9 June 2005.[25]
• Alfonso X the Wise International Prize in Toledo (21 October 1994).[26]
• Gold Medal of Madrid (30 November 1995). Received on 10 November 1998.[27][28]
• Honorary Degree by the Complutense University of Madrid (28 May 1996).[29]
• Prince of Asturias Concord Award (13 September 1996).[30]
• Coexistence Award of Ceuta (30 April 1999).[31][32]
• Gold Medal of Castilla y León (22 March 1997).[33]
• Medal of Honor of Madrid (15 May 2011).[34]
• Adopted Son of Madrid (Posthumous, 27 March 2014).[35]

Arms

Coat of arms of Adolfo Suárez

Notes He was created Grandee as Duke of Suárez in 1981. Coronet Coronet of Spanish Grandee. Escutcheon Or, two towers Argent, masoned Sable, surmounted by two eagles volant and combatant Sable on a terrace in base Vert charged with an Escallop Argent.[36] Orders Order of the Golden Fleece and Order of Charles III collars. Other elements An heraldic mantle used by the Spanish Grandee. Symbolism The arms of the Castilian branch of Suárez differenced by an Escallop Argent, the traditional emblem of James, son of Zebedee, commonly used in Galicia, because 1st Duke of Suárez's paternal family had Galician origins. Previous versions Coat of arms bore as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

See also

• Puedo prometer y prometo
• Politics of Spain
• Prime Minister of Spain
• Spanish transition to democracy

References

1. Adolfo Suárez González, 1. duque de Suárez, Geneall.es, at Generall.net
2. Payne, S.G. The Franco Regime, 1936–1975. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1987. p 616.
3. Preston, Paul, "Juan Carlos: Steering Spain from Dictatorship to Democracy", page 457. Harper Perennial, 2005. ISBN 0-00-638693-8
4. Cercas, Javier, "The Anatomy of a Moment". Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4088-0560-2.
5. Roberts, Geoffrey K.; Hogwood, Patricia (2003), The Politics Today companion to West European politics, Manchester University Press, p. 137
6. BOE 07-06-09, Spanish official journal. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
7. "Suárez, Adolfo". World Leadership Alliance. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
8. Cué, Francesco Manetto, Carlos E. (21 March 2014). "El hijo de Adolfo Suárez sobre su padre: "El desenlace es inminente"". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
9. Fallece Adolfo Suárez, el presidente de la Transición, El Mundo, 23 March 2014
10. "El aeropuerto de Madrid se llama desde hoy Adolfo Suárez". El Mundo (in Spanish). 24 March 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
11. "Fallece Amparo Illana, esposa de Adolfo Suárez". El País. 18 May 2001.
12. "Boletín Oficial del Estado 07-06-09, Spanish Official Journal" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2017.
13. "Boletín Oficial del Estado 14-03-24, Spanish Official Journal" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2017.
14. Boletín Oficial del Estado 78-06-23, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
15. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 73-09-29, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
16. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 69-07-18, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
17. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 71-04-05, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
18. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 67-04-01, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
19. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 72-04-01, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 24 March 2014)
20. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 72-07-18, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
21. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 75-07-04, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
22. Spanish: Boletín Oficial del Estado 70-09-15, Spanish Official Journal (accessed on 23 December 2011)
23. "CIDADÃOS ESTRANGEIROS AGRACIADOS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS – Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". www.ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
24. Medalla de Oro de la provincia de Segovia concedida a su Alteza Real Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg (1991). Segovia. Provincial Council of Segovia. ISBN 84-86789-35-4.
25. Ávila, Diario de. "La "deuda histórica" de Ávila a Suárez". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
26. País, Ediciones El (27 January 2017). "Adolfo Suárez 1932 – 2014". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
27. "ABC (Madrid) – 12/11/1998, p. 71 – ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
28. "ABC (Madrid) – 01/12/1995, p. 12 – ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
29. País, Ediciones El (27 January 2017). "Adolfo Suárez 1932 – 2014". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
30. País, Ediciones El (14 September 1996). "Adolfo Suárez premio Príncipe de Asturias por su aportación a la "concordia democrática"". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
31. "Con Adolfo Suárez se va el primer galardonado por la Fundación Premio Convivencia". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
32. País, Ediciones El (30 April 1999). "Suárez, González y Roca hablarán de "España desde la Constitución"". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
33. "Adolfo Suárez, profeta en su tierra". www.leonoticias.com. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
34. Press, Europa (30 March 2011). "Adolfo Suárez recibirá la Medalla de Honor de Madrid y Aznar y González la de oro". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
35. Press, Europa (27 March 2014). "El Pleno municipal designa a Adolfo Suárez como Hijo Adoptivo". Retrieved 12 July 2017.
36. (in Spanish) Adolfo Suárez, AMPA Súarez, p. 5 . Retrieved 24 March 2014.

External links

• Biography by CIDOB (in Spanish)
• Tribute to Adolfo Suárez: Guestbook

Media offices
Preceded by Jesús Aparicio-Bernal	Director General of RTVE 1969–1973	Succeeded by Rafael Orbe Cano
Political offices
Preceded by Juan Murillo de Valdivia	Civil Governor of the Province of Segovia 1968–1969	Succeeded by Mariano Pérez-Hickman Rey
Preceded by Antonio José García Rodríguez-Acosta	Deputy Secretary General of the Movimiento Nacional 1975	Succeeded by Antonio Chozas Bermúdez
Preceded by José Solís	Minister-Secretary General of the Movimiento Nacional 1975–1976	Succeeded by Ignacio García López
Preceded by Fernando de Santiago y Díaz (acting)	Prime Minister of Spain 1976–1981	Succeeded by Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
Party political offices
Preceded by Office created	President of the Union of the Democratic Centre 1977–1981	Succeeded by Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún
Preceded by Office created	President of the Democratic and Social Centre 1982–1991	Succeeded by Rafael Calvo Ortega
Preceded by Giovanni Malagodi	President of the Liberal International 1989–1992	Succeeded by Otto Graf Lambsdorff
Spanish nobility
New creation	Duke of Suárez 1981–2014	Succeeded by Alejandra Romero Suárez