Spanish transition to democracy

political transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975

The Spanish transition to democracy, known in Spain as la Transición (IPA: [la tɾansiˈθjon]; "the Transition") or la Transición española ("the Spanish Transition"), is a period of modern Spanish history that moved from the Francoist dictatorship to a parliamentary system, under Juan Carlos I.

Kingdom of Spain
Reino de España
1975–1982
Flag of Spanish transition to democracy
Flag
(1977–1981)
Coat of arms (1977–1981) of Spanish transition to democracy
Coat of arms
(1977–1981)
Motto: Una, Grande y Libre
("One, Great and Free")
Plus Ultra
("Further Beyond")
Anthem: Marcha Real
("Royal March")
Capital
and largest city
Madrid
Official languagesSpanish
After 1978: Catalan, Basque, Galician
Religion
Roman Catholicism (state religion until 1978)
GovernmentUnitary absolute monarchy
(1975-1978)

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
(after 1978)
King 
• 1975–1982
Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister 
• 1975–1976
Carlos Arias Navarro
• 1976–1981
Adolfo Suárez
• 1981–1982
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
LegislatureCortes Españolas (until 1977)
Cortes Generales (from 1977)
Senate
Congress of Deputies
Historical eraCold War
• Death of Franco
20 November 1975
18 November 1976
15 June 1977
15 October 1977
29 December 1978
1 March 1979
23 February 1981
28 October 1982
CurrencySpanish peseta
Calling code+34
Preceded by
Succeeded by
1975:
Spanish State
1977:
Spanish Republican
Government-in-Exile
Kingdom of Spain