The second government of Adolfo Suárez was formed on 5 July 1977, following the latter's confirmation as Prime Minister of Spain by King Juan Carlos I on 17 June, as a result of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 1977 general election.[1] It succeeded the first Suárez government and was the Government of Spain from 5 July 1977 to 6 April 1979, a total of 640 days, or 1 year, 9 months and 1 day.[2][3]

2nd government of Adolfo Suárez

Government of Spain
1977–1979
Adolfo Suárez in March 1978.
Date formed5 July 1977
Date dissolved6 April 1979
People and organisations
MonarchJuan Carlos I
Prime MinisterAdolfo Suárez
Deputy Prime MinistersManuel Gutiérrez Mellado1st, Enrique Fuentes Quintana2nd, Fernando Abril Martorell3rd (1977–1978)
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado1st, Fernando Abril Martorell2nd (1978–1979)
No. of ministers19[a] (1977; 1978)
18[a] (1977–1978; 1978–1979)
Total no. of members24[a]
Member party  UCD
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition party  PSOE
Opposition leaderFelipe González
History
Election1977 general election
Outgoing election1979 general election
Legislature termConstituent Cortes
Budget1978
PredecessorSuárez I
SuccessorSuárez III

Suárez's second cabinet was initially made up by independents and members from the political parties that had run within the UCD alliance, most of whom would end up joining it upon its transformation into a full-fledged political party.[4][5][6] It was automatically dismissed on 2 March 1979 as a consequence of the 1979 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.[7]

Cabinet changes

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Suárez's second government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:

Council of Ministers

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The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the three deputy prime ministers and 18 ministries, including a number of deputy ministers without portfolio.[18][19] From February 1978, the council would only include two deputy prime ministers.[16]

Suárez II Government
(5 July 1977 – 6 April 1979)
Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez UCD (Ind.)[b] 17 June 1977 2 April 1979 [1]
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Defence
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado Military 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [19]
[20]
Second Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Economy
Enrique Fuentes Quintana UCD (Ind.) 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [20]
[21]
Third Deputy Prime Minister Fernando Abril Martorell UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [21]
Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelino Oreja UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [19]
Minister of Justice Landelino Lavilla UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 22 March 1979 [19]
Minister of Finance Francisco Fernández Ordóñez UCD (PSD)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of the Interior Rodolfo Martín Villa UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of Public Works and Urbanism Joaquín Garrigues Walker UCD (FPDL)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of Education and Science Íñigo Cavero UCD (PDC)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of Labour Manuel Jiménez de Parga UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [20]
Minister of Industry and Energy Alberto Oliart UCD (Ind.) 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [20]
Minister of Agriculture José Enrique Martínez Genique UCD (Ind.) 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [20]
Minister of Trade and Tourism Juan Antonio García Díez UCD (PSD)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of the Presidency José Manuel Otero UCD (Ind.)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of Transport and Communications José Lladó UCD (Ind.) 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 [20]
Minister of Health and Social Security Enrique Sánchez de León UCD (AREX)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Minister of Culture and Welfare Pío Cabanillas Gallas UCD (PP)[b] 5 July 1977 1 September 1977 [20]
Deputy Minister for the Regions, without portfolio Manuel Clavero UCD (PSLA)[b] 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 [20]
Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio Ignacio Camuñas UCD (PDP)[b] 5 July 1977 27 September 1977 [20]

Changes September 1977

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Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Culture[c] Pío Cabanillas Gallas UCD (PP)[b] 1 September 1977 6 April 1979 [9]
Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal.[22]

Changes February 1978

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Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Second Deputy Prime Minister[d]
Minister of Economy
Fernando Abril Martorell UCD 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 [24]
[25]
Minister of Labour Rafael Calvo Ortega UCD 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 [25]
Minister of Industry and Energy Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún UCD 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 [25]
Minister of Agriculture Jaime Lamo de Espinosa UCD 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 [25]
Minister of Transport and Communications Salvador Sánchez-Terán UCD 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 [25]
Minister for Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo UCD 11 February 1978 6 April 1979 [26]

Changes 1979

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Portfolio Name Party Took office Left office Ref.
Minister of Justice Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979.[27]

Departmental structure

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Adolfo Suárez's second government is organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure may vary depending on the ministerial department.[28][29]

Unit/body rank
Office
(Original name)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Alliance/party Ref.
Prime Minister
(Presidencia del Gobierno)
  Adolfo Suárez 17 June 1977 2 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
First Deputy Prime Minister
(Vicepresidencia Primera
del Gobierno)
  Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(Military)
Second Deputy Prime Minister
(Vicepresidencia Segunda
del Gobierno)
  Enrique Fuentes Quintana 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 Independent
  Fernando Abril Martorell 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD
Third Deputy Prime Minister
(Vicepresidencia Tercera
del Gobierno)

(until 25 February 1978)
  Fernando Abril Martorell 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores)
  Marcelino Oreja 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
[30]
Ministry of Justice
(Ministerio de Justicia)
  Landelino Lavilla 5 July 1977 22 March 1979
(renounced)
UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
  Rodolfo Martín Villa
(ordinary discharge of duties)
22 March 1979 6 April 1979 UCD
Ministry of Defence
(Ministerio de Defensa)
  Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(Military)
[31]
Ministry of Finance
(Ministerio de Hacienda)
  Francisco Fernández Ordóñez 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
PSD until Dec 1977)
Ministry of the Interior
(Ministerio del Interior)
  Rodolfo Martín Villa 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Public Works
and Urbanism

(Ministerio de Obras Públicas
y Urbanismo)
  Joaquín Garrigues Walker 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
FPDL until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Education and Science
(Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia)
  Íñigo Cavero 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
PDC until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Labour
(Ministerio de Trabajo)
  Manuel Jiménez de Parga 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
  Rafael Calvo Ortega 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD
Ministry of Industry and Energy
(Ministerio de Industria y Energía)
  Alberto Oliart 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 UCD
(Independent)
  Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD
Ministry of Agriculture
(Ministerio de Agricultura)
  José Enrique Martínez Genique 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 UCD
(Independent)
  Jaime Lamo de Espinosa 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD
Ministry of Trade and Tourism
(Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo)
  Juan Antonio García Díez 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
PSD until Dec 1977)
Ministry of the Presidency
(Ministerio de la Presidencia)
  José Manuel Otero 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Economy
(Ministerio de Economía)
  Fernando Abril Martorell 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
Indep. until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Transport
and Communications

(Ministerio de Transportes
y Comunicaciones)
  José Lladó 5 July 1977 25 February 1978 UCD
(Independent)
  Salvador Sánchez-Terán 25 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD
Ministry of Health
and Social Security

(Ministerio de Sanidad
y Seguridad Social)
  Enrique Sánchez de León 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
AREX until Dec 1977)
Ministry of Culture and Welfare
(Ministerio de Cultura y Bienestar)
(until 1 September 1977)

Ministry of Culture
(Ministerio de Cultura)
(from 1 September 1977)

  Pío Cabanillas Gallas 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
PP until Dec 1977)
Deputy Minister for the Regions,
without portfolio

(Ministro adjunto para las Regiones,
sin cartera)
  Manuel Clavero 5 July 1977 6 April 1979 UCD
(UCD from Dec 1977;
PSLA until Dec 1977)
Deputy Minister for Relations with
the Cortes, without portfolio

(Ministro adjunto para las Relaciones
con las Cortes, sin cartera)

(until 27 September 1977)
  Ignacio Camuñas 5 July 1977 27 September 1977 UCD
(PDP)
Minister for Relations with the
European Communities, without
portfolio

(Ministro para las Relaciones con las
Comunidades Europeas, sin cartera)

(from 11 February 1978)
  Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo 11 February 1978 6 April 1979 UCD

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Does not include the Prime Minister.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Joined the UCD in December 1977.
  3. ^ On 1 September 1977, the Ministry of Culture and Welfare was reorganized as the Ministry of Culture.[9]
  4. ^ Following Enrique Fuentes Quintana's stepping down as Second Deputy Prime Minister on 25 February 1978, the Third Deputy Prime Minister was promoted to second deputy status.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Suárez, confirmado por el Rey, formará nuevo Gobierno". El País (in Spanish). 18 June 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Segundo Gobierno Suárez". El País (in Spanish). 5 July 1977. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Los Gobiernos de Suárez". El País (in Spanish). 30 January 1981. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Diez ministros pertenecen a la "Unión del Centro Democrático"". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 July 1977. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ^ Merino, Julio (20 April 2020). "La historia de UCD a través de Landelino Lavilla, uno de los hombres clave de la Transición". El Cierre Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. ^ "3. Partidos políticos que integraron "Unión de Centro Democrático"". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. ^ "La victoria de UCD (167 escaños) sitúa a Suárez en condiciones de formar un Gobierno monocolor". El País (in Spanish). 3 March 1979. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Se crea la Subdirección General de Medios de Comunicación". El País (in Spanish). 1 September 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Real Decreto 2258/1977, de 27 de agosto, sobre estructura orgánica y funciones del Ministerio de Cultura" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (209). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 19581–19584. 1 September 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
  10. ^ "Camuñas abandona el Gobierno". El País (in Spanish). 28 September 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Un síntoma de la crisis". El País (in Spanish). 29 September 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Suárez quiere neutralizar la crisis gubernamental por unos días". El País (in Spanish). 29 September 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo será nombrado hoy ministro para Europa". El País (in Spanish). 10 February 1978. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Calvo Sotelo, ministro para las Relaciones con la CEE". El País (in Spanish). 11 February 1978. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Se confirma la crisis de Gobierno". El País (in Spanish). 26 October 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Fernando Abril asume el Ministerio de Economía y cambian cuatro ministros del Gabinete". El País (in Spanish). 25 February 1978. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Martín Villa se hace cargo de Justicia". El País (in Spanish). 23 March 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Adolfo Suárez aprobó la reforma administrativa por simple decreto". El País (in Spanish). 5 July 1977. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d "Gobiernos por legislaturas. Legislatura Constituyente". lamoncloa.gob.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Real Decreto 1563/1977, de 4 de julio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (159). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 15045–15046. 5 July 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
  21. ^ a b "Real Decreto 1562/1977, de 4 de julio, por el que se nombran Vicepresidentes del Gobierno a don Enrique Fuentes Quintana y don Fernando Abril Martorell" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (159). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 15045. 5 July 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
  22. ^ "Real Decreto 2521/1977, de 29 de septiembre, por el que se dispone el cese de don Ignacio Camuñas Solís como Ministro adjunto para las Relaciones con las Cortes" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (234). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 21774. 30 September 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
  23. ^ "Real Decreto 228/1978, de 24 de febrero, por el que se dispone el cese del Vicepresidente tercero del Gobierno, don Fernando Abril Martorell" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (48). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 4612. 25 February 1978. ISSN 0212-033X.
  24. ^ "Real Decreto 230/1978, de 24 de febrero, por el que se nombra Vicepresidente segundo del Gobierno a don Fernando Abril Martorell" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (48). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 4613. 25 February 1978. ISSN 0212-033X.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Real Decreto 231/1978, de 24 de febrero, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (48). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 4613. 25 February 1978. ISSN 0212-033X.
  26. ^ "Real Decreto 135/1978, de 10 de febrero, por el que se nombra Ministro para las Relaciones con las Comunidades Europeas, sin cartera, a don Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (36). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 3437. 11 February 1978. ISSN 0212-033X.
  27. ^ "Real Decreto 548/1979, de 22 de marzo, por el que se dispone el cese en sus funciones del Ministro de Justicia, don Landelino Lavilla Alsina" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (71). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 7119. 23 March 2019. ISSN 0212-033X.
  28. ^ "Decreto de 26 julio de 1957 por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Régimen jurídico de la Administración del Estado" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (195). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 646–651. 31 July 1957. ISSN 0212-033X.
  29. ^ "Real Decreto 1558/1977, de 4 de julio, por el que se reestructuran determinados Organos de la Administración Central del Estado" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (159). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 15035–15037. 5 July 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
  30. ^ "Decreto 804/1976, de 2 de abril, por el que se reorganiza el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (95). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 7799–7803. 20 April 1976. ISSN 0212-033X.
  31. ^ "Real Decreto 2723/1977, de 2 de noviembre, por el que se estructura orgánica y funcionalmente el Ministerio de Defensa" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (265). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado: 24278–24281. 5 November 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.

Bibliography

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Preceded by Government of Spain
1977–1979
Succeeded by