Editing Spain (section)

=== Restoration of democracy ===
{{Main|Spanish transition to democracy|Spanish society after the democratic transition}}
[[File:De proclamatie en beëdiging van Prins Juan Carlos tot Koning van Spanje tijdens , Bestanddeelnr 254-9763.jpg|thumb|left|Juan Carlos I before the Cortes Españolas, during his proclamation as King on 22 November 1975]]
In 1962, a group of politicians involved in the opposition to Franco's regime inside the country and in exile met in the congress of the [[European Movement]] in Munich, where they made a resolution in favour of democracy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/06/09/actualidad/1339259231_174858.html|title=El contubernio que preparó la democracia|work=EL PAÍS|date=9 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405102702/http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/06/09/actualidad/1339259231_174858.html|archive-date=5 April 2013|last1=Villena|first1=Miguel Ángel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movimientoeuropeo.org/area-prensa/actividades/Contubernio-Munich-50-aniversario.php|title=Contubernio de Múnich: 50 años|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021124653/http://www.movimientoeuropeo.org/area-prensa/actividades/Contubernio-Munich-50-aniversario.php|archive-date=21 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/hemeroteca/20120605/54303390132/contubernio-munich-politica-oposicion-antifranquista-movimiento-europeo.html|title=El contubernio de Munich|work=La Vanguardia|date=4 June 2012|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026212625/http://www.lavanguardia.com/hemeroteca/20120605/54303390132/contubernio-munich-politica-oposicion-antifranquista-movimiento-europeo.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

With Franco's death in November 1975, [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos]] succeeded to the position of [[King of Spain]] and [[head of state]] in accordance with the Francoist law. With the approval of the new [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] and the [[Spanish transition to democracy|restoration of democracy]], the State [[devolution|devolved]] much authority to the regions and created an internal organisation based on [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]. The [[Spanish 1977 Amnesty Law]] let people of Franco's regime continue inside institutions without consequences, even perpetrators of some crimes during transition to democracy like the [[Massacre of 3 March 1976 in Vitoria]] or [[1977 Massacre of Atocha]].<!-- The 'founding chairman' of the current leading political party in Spain, the [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]], was [[Manuel Fraga Iribarne|Manuel Fraga]] who had been a minister in Franco's government and yet continued with his political career until shortly before his death in 2012.-->

In the Basque Country, moderate [[Basque nationalism]] coexisted with a [[Basque Conflict|radical nationalist movement]] led by the armed organisation [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]] until the latter's dissolution in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/former_ep_presidents/president-fontaine/speeches/en/sp0066.htm|title=Speech by Mrs Nicole FONTAINE, President of the European Parliament on the occasion of the presentation of the Sakharov Prize 2000 to Basta ya!|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002164901/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/former_ep_presidents/president-fontaine/speeches/en/sp0066.htm|archive-date=2 October 2016}}</ref> The group was formed in 1959 during Franco's rule but had continued to wage its violent campaign even after the restoration of democracy and the return of a large measure of regional autonomy.

On 23 February 1981, rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes in an attempt to impose [[23-F|a military-backed government]]. King Juan Carlos took personal command of the military and successfully ordered the coup plotters, via national television, to surrender.<ref>{{cite news|title=King Orders army to crush coup|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1981/feb/23/spain.fromthearchive|access-date=19 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=23 February 1981|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005013653/https://www.theguardian.com/world/1981/feb/23/spain.fromthearchive|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Felipe González firma el Tratado de Adhesión de España a la Comunidad Económica Europea en el Palacio Real de Madrid. Pool Moncloa. 12 de junio de 1985.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Felipe González]] signing the treaty of accession to the [[European Economic Community]] on 12 June 1985]]
During the 1980s the democratic restoration made possible a growing open society. New cultural movements based on freedom appeared, like [[La Movida Madrileña]]. In May 1982 Spain joined [[NATO]], followed by [[1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum|a referendum]] after a strong social opposition. That year the [[Spanish Socialist Workers Party]] (PSOE) came to power, the first left-wing government in 43 years. In 1986 Spain joined the [[European Economic Community]], which later became the [[European Union]]. The PSOE was replaced in government by the [[People's Party (Spain)|Partido Popular]] (PP) in 1996 after scandals around participation of the government of [[Felipe González]] in the [[GAL (paramilitary group)|Dirty war against ETA]].

[[File:Barcelona-1992-rr-800.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]]]]
On 1 January 2002, Spain fully adopted the [[euro]], and Spain experienced strong economic growth, well above the EU average during the early 2000s. However, well-publicised concerns issued by many economic commentators at the height of the boom warned that extraordinary property prices and a high foreign trade deficit were likely to lead to a painful economic collapse.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pfanner, Eric|date=11 July 2002|title=Economy reaps benefits of entry to the 'club': Spain's euro bonanza|work=International Herald Tribune |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/11/business/worldbusiness/11iht-a10_18.html?scp=1&sq=Economy%20reaps%20benefits%20of%20entry%20to%20the%20%27club%27%20:%20Spain%27s%20euro%20bonanza&st=cse|access-date=9 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501090321/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/11/business/worldbusiness/11iht-a10_18.html?scp=1&sq=Economy%20reaps%20benefits%20of%20entry%20to%20the%20%27club%27%20:%20Spain%27s%20euro%20bonanza&st=cse}} See also: {{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9118701|title=Spain's economy / Plain sailing no longer|newspaper=The Economist|date=3 May 2007|access-date=9 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613212911/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9118701|archive-date=13 June 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, the [[Prestige oil spill]] occurred with big ecological consequences along Spain's Atlantic coastline. In 2003 [[José María Aznar]] supported US president [[George W. Bush]] in the [[Iraq War]], and a strong movement against war rose in Spanish society. In March 2004 a local [[Islamist]] terrorist group inspired by [[Al-Qaeda]] carried out the largest terrorist attack in Western European history when they killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800 others by [[2004 Madrid train bombings|bombing commuter trains]] in Madrid.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al-Qaeda 'claims Madrid bombings'|date=14 March 2004|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509426.stm|access-date=13 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624220502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509426.stm|archive-date=24 June 2006|url-status=live}} See also: {{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=Madrid bombers get long sentences|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7070827.stm|access-date=13 August 2008|date=31 October 2007|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114145049/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7070827.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Though initial suspicions focused on the Basque terrorist group [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]], evidence of Islamist involvement soon emerged. Because of the proximity of the [[2004 Spanish general election]], the issue of responsibility quickly became a political controversy, with the main competing parties PP and PSOE exchanging accusations over the handling of the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509744.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Spain votes under a shadow |access-date=13 August 2008|date=14 March 2004|first=Dominic|last=Bailey|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825175335/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509744.stm|archive-date=25 August 2004}}</ref> The PSOE won the election, led by [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]].<ref>{{cite news|title=An election bombshell|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2004/03/18/an-election-bombshell|access-date=19 March 2020|newspaper=The Economist|date=18 March 2004|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319233628/https://www.economist.com/europe/2004/03/18/an-election-bombshell|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the early 2000s, the proportion of [[Immigration to Spain#Currently|Spain's foreign born population]] increased rapidly during its economic boom but then declined due to the [[2008 financial crisis]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ortiz|first1=Fiona|title=Spain's population falls as immigrants flee crisis|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-population/spains-population-falls-as-immigrants-flee-crisis-idUSBRE93L0J620130422|access-date=2 September 2017|work=Reuters|date=22 April 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902102026/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-population/spains-population-falls-as-immigrants-flee-crisis-idUSBRE93L0J620130422|archive-date=2 September 2017}}</ref> In 2005, the Spanish government legalised [[Same-sex marriage in Spain|same sex marriage]], becoming the third country worldwide to do so.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spain legalises gay marriage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/30/gayrights.spain|access-date=19 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=30 June 2005|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221223432/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/30/gayrights.spain|url-status=live}}</ref> Decentralisation was supported with much resistance of Constitutional Court and conservative opposition, so did gender politics like quotas or the law against gender violence. Government talks with ETA happened, and the group announced its permanent cease of violence in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tremlett|first1=Giles|title=Basque separatists Eta announce ceasefire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/05/eta-announces-ceasefire|access-date=19 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=5 September 2010|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319233632/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/05/eta-announces-ceasefire|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Madrid October15.jpg|thumb|Demonstration against the crisis and high youth unemployment in Madrid, 15 October 2011]]
The bursting of the [[Spanish property bubble]] in 2008 led to the [[2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis]]. High levels of unemployment, cuts in government spending and corruption in [[Royal family]] and [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] served as a backdrop to the [[2011–12 Spanish protests]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Spain's Indignados protest here to stay|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18070246|access-date=19 March 2020|work=BBC News|date=15 May 2012|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319235526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18070246|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Catalan independentism]] also rose. In 2011, [[Mariano Rajoy]]'s conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] won the election with 44.6% of votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rajoy ahoy|url=https://www.economist.com/newsbook/2011/11/21/rajoy-ahoy|access-date=19 March 2020|newspaper=The Economist|date=21 November 2011|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319233630/https://www.economist.com/newsbook/2011/11/21/rajoy-ahoy|url-status=live}}</ref> As prime minister, he implemented austerity measures for EU bailout, the EU Stability and Growth Pact.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tremlett|first1=Giles|title=Mariano Rajoy announces €65bn in austerity measures for Spain|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/11/mariano-rajoy-spain-65bn-cuts|access-date=19 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=11 July 2012|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319233631/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/11/mariano-rajoy-spain-65bn-cuts|url-status=live}}</ref> On 19 June 2014, the monarch, Juan Carlos, abdicated in favour of his son, who became [[Felipe VI]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Spain king: Juan Carlos signs his abdication|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27910104|access-date=19 March 2020|work=BBC News|date=18 June 2014|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319235805/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27910104|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2017 a [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|Catalan independence referendum]] was held and the [[Catalan parliament]] voted to unilaterally declare [[2017 Catalonia declaration of independence|independence from Spain]] to form a Catalan Republic<ref>{{cite news|last1=Alandete|first1=David|title=Análisis. Is Catalonia independent?|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/27/inenglish/1509117264_660083.html|work=[[El País]]|date=27 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028042504/https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/27/inenglish/1509117264_660083.html|archive-date=28 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ríos |first1=Pere |last2=Piñol |first2=Àngels |title=El Parlament de Cataluña aprueba la resolución para declarar la independencia|url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2017/10/27/catalunya/1509105810_557081.html|work=[[El País]]|date=27 October 2017|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029185252/https://elpais.com/ccaa/2017/10/27/catalunya/1509105810_557081.html|archive-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> on the day the [[Senate of Spain|Spanish Senate]] was discussing approving direct rule over Catalonia as called for by the Spanish Prime Minister.<ref name="BBC-27Oct17-1">{{cite news|date=26 October 2017|title=Catalan crisis: Regional MPs debate Spain takeover bid|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41760832|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026144624/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41760832|archive-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="BBC-27Oct17-2">{{cite news|date=27 October 2017|title=Catalan crisis: Spain PM Rajoy demands direct rule|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41771294|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029003630/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41771294|archive-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> On the same day the Senate granted the power to impose direct rule and Rajoy dissolved the Catalan parliament and called a new election.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 October 2017|title=Catalonia independence: Rajoy dissolves Catalan parliament|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41783289|work=BBC News|location=Barcelona, Madrid|access-date=27 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028072348/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41783289|archive-date=28 October 2017 }}</ref> No country recognised Catalonia as a separate state.<ref name="EuN_20171027">{{cite news|last1=Sandford|first1=Alasdair|title=Catalonia: what direct rule from Madrid could mean|url=http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/27/catalonia-what-direct-rule-from-madrid-could-mean|access-date=27 October 2017|work=euronews|date=27 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027201407/http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/27/catalonia-what-direct-rule-from-madrid-could-mean|archive-date=27 October 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Primera trobada entre el president Illa i l'alcalde Collboni (23-08-2024) - 1.jpg|thumb|[[Salvador Illa]], former minister of Health during COVID-19 pandemic in the first coalition Government in Spain, elected first non independentist Catalan regional president in over a decade, with Barcelona mayor [[Jaume Collboni]].]]

In June 2018, the [[Congress of Deputies]] passed a [[2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy|motion of no-confidence against Rajoy]] and replaced him with the PSOE leader [[Pedro Sánchez (politician)|Pedro Sánchez]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/world/europe/spain-mariano-rajoy-no-confidence.html |title=Spain's Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, Is Ousted in No-Confidence Vote |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 2018 |access-date=18 June 2018 |last1=Minder |first1=Raphael |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619012814/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/world/europe/spain-mariano-rajoy-no-confidence.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, the first ever coalicion government in Spain was formed, between PSOE and Unidas Podemos. Between 2018 and 2024, Spain faced an [[2018–2023 Spanish institutional crisis|institutional crisis]] surrounding the mandate of the [[General Council of the Judiciary]] (CGPJ), until finally the mandate got renovated.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Spanish institutional crisis triggered by legal block of judicial reform |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2022/12/20/spanish-institutional-crisis-triggered-by-legal-block-of-judicial-reform/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804144518/https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2022/12/20/spanish-institutional-crisis-triggered-by-legal-block-of-judicial-reform/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2020, the [[COVID-19]] virus was confirmed to have [[COVID-19 pandemic in Spain|spread to Spain]], causing life expectancy to drop by more than a year.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Woolf|first1=Steven H.|last2=Masters|first2=Ryan K.|last3=Aron|first3=Laudan Y.|date=24 June 2021|title=Effect of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 on life expectancy across populations in the USA and other high income countries: simulations of provisional mortality data|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=373|pages=n1343|doi=10.1136/bmj.n1343|issn=1756-1833|pmid=34162598|pmc=8220857|doi-access=free}}</ref> The European Commission economic recovery package [[Next Generation EU]] were created to support the EU member states to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be in use in the period 2021–2026. In March 2021, Spain became the sixth nation in the world to make [[Legality of euthanasia|active euthanasia legal]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Borraz|first=Marta|date=18 March 2021|title=Luz verde definitiva: la ley de eutanasia ya es una realidad en España tras superar su último trámite en el Congreso|url=https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/luz-verde-definitiva-ley-eutanasia-supera-ultimo-tramite-congreso-entrara-vigor-tres-meses_1_7320129.html|access-date=19 March 2021|website=ElDiario.es|language=es|archive-date=18 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318233215/https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/luz-verde-definitiva-ley-eutanasia-supera-ultimo-tramite-congreso-entrara-vigor-tres-meses_1_7320129.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[2023 Spanish general election|general election on 23 July 2023]], prime minister Pedro Sánchez once again formed a coalition government, this time with [[Sumar (electoral platform)|Sumar]] (successors of [[Unidas Podemos]]).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bayer |first=Lili |date=2023-11-16 |title=Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez wins new term as Spanish PM following election gamble – as it happened |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/16/spain-acting-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-expected-win-backing-for-new-term-europe-latest-updates |access-date=2023-12-07 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207213108/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/16/spain-acting-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-expected-win-backing-for-new-term-europe-latest-updates |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, the first non-independentist Catalan regional president in over a decade, [[Salvador Illa]], was elected, normalising the constitutional and institutional relations between the national and the regional administrations. According to latest polls,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.newtral.es/sentimiento-catalan-espanol/20240501/ | title=La mitad de los catalanes se siente tan español como catalán, un 8,4% más desde las elecciones de 2012 | date=May 2024 }}</ref> only 17.3% of Catalans feel themselves as "only Catalan". 46% of Catalans would answer "as Spanish as Catalan", while 21.8% "more Catalan than Spanish".<ref name="auto1"/> Accordind to a 2024 poll of University of Barcelona, over 50% of Catalans would vote against independence, while less than 40% would vote in favour.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20230113/encuesta-independencia-catalunya-icps-uab-81112066 | title=El apoyo a la independencia de Catalunya baja del 40%, según una encuesta del ICPS | date=13 January 2023 }}</ref>