Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
The Marquis of the Ría of Ribadeo |
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| Prime Minister of Spain | |
| In office 25 February 1981 – 1 December 1982 |
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| Monarch | Juan Carlos I |
| Deputy | Rodolfo Martín Villa Juan Antonio García Díez |
| Preceded by | Adolfo Suárez |
| Succeeded by | Felipe González |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain | |
| In office 9 September 1980 – 25 February 1981 |
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| Prime Minister | Adolfo Suárez |
| Preceded by | Fernando Abril Martorell |
| Succeeded by | Juan Antonio García Díez |
| Minister of Public Works | |
| In office 4 July 1976 – April 1977 |
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| Prime Minister | Adolfo Suárez |
| Preceded by | Antonio Valdés González-Roldán |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Pérez de Bricio Olarriaga (acting) |
| Minister of Commerce | |
| In office 13 December 1975 – 6 July 1976 |
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| Prime Minister | Carlos Arias Navarro |
| Preceded by | José Luis Cerón Ayuso |
| Succeeded by | José Lladó Fernández-Urrutia |
| Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid | |
| In office 28 July 1983 – 23 April 1986 |
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| In office 15 June 1977 – 31 August 1982 |
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| Member of the European Parliament for Spain | |
| In office 1 January 1986 – 10 June 1987 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Leopoldo Ramón Pedro Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo
14 April 1926 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 3 May 2008 (aged 82) Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain |
| Resting place | Ribadeo Cemetery, Galicia, Spain |
| Political party | UCD |
| Spouse | María del Pilar Ibáñez-Martín Mellado |
| Children | Leopoldo (b. 1957) Juan (b. 1958) María del Pilar (b. 1959) Pedro (b. 1960) Víctor María (b. 1961) José María (b. 1964) Andrés (b. 1965) Pablo (b. 1965) |
Leopoldo Ramón Pedro Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo (born 14 April 1926 – died 3 May 2008) was an important Spanish politician. He served as the Prime Minister during a special time in Spain's history. This was when Spain was changing from a dictatorship to a democracy.
Calvo-Sotelo was also known as the 1st Marquis of the Ría of Ribadeo. He was also a Grandee of Spain, which is a very high noble title. He passed away at his home in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, when he was 82 years old.
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Early Life and Education
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo was born in Madrid, Spain. His family was well-known in Spanish politics. He studied engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. This education helped him later in his career.
He was a very smart and educated person. He had a strong interest in how countries work. This led him to a life in public service.
Beginning His Political Journey
Calvo-Sotelo started his political career in the 1970s. Spain was going through big changes then. After the death of General Francisco Franco, Spain began to become a democracy.
He held several important jobs in the government. He was the Minister of Commerce. He also served as the Minister of Public Works. These roles gave him experience in managing the country's economy and infrastructure.
Becoming a Deputy Prime Minister
Before becoming Prime Minister, Calvo-Sotelo was the Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain. He worked closely with the Prime Minister at the time, Adolfo Suárez. This role prepared him for even bigger responsibilities. He helped guide Spain through its transition to democracy.
Prime Minister of Spain
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo became the Prime Minister of Spain on 25 February 1981. This was a very challenging time for Spain. The country was still getting used to its new democratic system.
One of the most important events during his time as Prime Minister was a coup attempt. This was when some military members tried to take over the government. Calvo-Sotelo handled this crisis with great calm and strength. He helped protect Spain's new democracy.
Key Actions as Prime Minister
During his time, Calvo-Sotelo worked to make Spain a modern European country. He led Spain into the NATO in 1982. NATO is a group of countries that work together for defense. This was a big step for Spain on the world stage.
He also continued the work of making Spain more democratic. His government helped to make sure that Spain's new freedoms were strong. He served as Prime Minister until 1 December 1982.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as Prime Minister, Calvo-Sotelo continued to be involved in public life. He became a member of the Congress of Deputies, which is like Spain's parliament. He represented the region of Madrid.
He also served as a Member of the European Parliament. This meant he helped make decisions for the whole of Europe. He continued to work for Spain's place in Europe.
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo passed away in 2008. He is remembered as a key figure in Spain's move to democracy. He helped make sure Spain became a stable and free country.
See also
In Spanish: Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo para niños
