Second government of Adolfo Suárez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 2nd government of Adolfo Suárez
Government of Spain
1977–1979
Adolfo Suárez in March 1978.
Date formed	5 July 1977
Date dissolved	6 April 1979
People and organisations
Monarch	Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister	Adolfo Suárez
Deputy Prime Ministers	Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado1st, Enrique Fuentes Quintana2nd, Fernando Abril Martorell3rd (1977–1978) Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado1st, Fernando Abril Martorell2nd (1978–1979)
No. of ministers	19 (1977; 1978) 18 (1977–1978; 1978–1979)
Total no. of members	24
Member party	UCD
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	PSOE
Opposition leader	Felipe González
History
Election(s)	1977 general election
Outgoing election	1979 general election
Legislature term(s)	Constituent Cortes
Budget(s)	1978
Predecessor	Suárez I
Successor	Suárez III

The second government of Adolfo Suárez was a group of leaders who ran Spain from 1977 to 1979. It was formed on July 5, 1977. This happened after King Juan Carlos I confirmed Adolfo Suárez as the Prime Minister of Spain. His political party, the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD), won the most votes in the 1977 general election. This government followed Suárez's first government and was in power for about two years.

Suárez's second government was first made up of people who were not part of a specific party (called independents). It also included members from different political groups that had joined the UCD alliance. Many of these people later officially joined the UCD when it became a full political party. This government officially ended on March 2, 1979, after the 1979 general election. However, it continued to handle daily tasks until the next government was ready to take over.

Changes in the Government Team

During its time, Suárez's second government saw several changes in its members. This is often called a "cabinet reshuffle."

Key Changes in Ministers

• On September 1, 1977, the Ministry of Culture and Welfare changed its name to the Ministry of Culture. Some of its duties, like those related to foreign affairs, were moved to other ministries.
• On September 27, 1977, Ignacio Camuñas left his role as Deputy Minister of Relations with the Cortes. He disagreed with how the UCD party was being formed. After he left, his position was removed.
• On February 11, 1978, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo was given a new job. He became the Minister of Relations with the European Communities. This was a new position created to handle Spain's ties with Europe.
• On February 25, 1978, there was a big change in the government. This happened because Enrique Fuentes Quintana resigned.
  • Fernando Abril Martorell became the new Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy.
  • Rafael Calvo Ortega replaced Manuel Jiménez de Parga as Minister of Labour.
  • Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún took over from Alberto Oliart as Minister of Industry and Energy.
  • Jaime Lamo de Espinosa became the new Minister of Agriculture, replacing José Enrique Martínez Genique.
  • Salvador Sánchez-Terán replaced José Lladó as Minister of Transport and Communications.
• On March 23, 1979, Landelino Lavilla was chosen to be the President of the Congress of Deputies. This job meant he could not also be the Minister of Justice. So, Rodolfo Martín Villa, who was the Minister of the Interior, took on Lavilla's duties temporarily.

Ministers in the Government

The Council of Ministers is the main group of leaders in the Spanish government. It included the prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, and 18 different ministries. Some ministers also held roles without a specific department. From February 1978, the council had only two deputy prime ministers.

See also

In Spanish: Segundo Gobierno Suárez para niños