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Spain

 Flag of Spain

Last reviewed : 20 November 2009

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HISTORY

BBC Timeline of Spain

The Spanish Democracy

The transition from dictatorship to democracy began with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, its completion was marked by the electoral win of the socialist PSOE Party on 28 October 1982 in free democratic elections. The Spanish monarch King Juan Carlos was instrumental in the promotion of democracy; he intervened in the coup attempt known as “23-F” causing the plot to fail.

After the political transformation Spain changed radically adopting liberal values and free market practices, whilst maintaining the Spanish way of life.

Recent History

Spain joined the EEC (now EU) in 1986,hosted the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and Seville Expo´92. These three events confirmed the world view of Spain as a modern economic power on the world stage.

The centre-right Partido Popular government came to power in 1996 led by José María Aznar. Spain exchanged the peseta for the Euro in 2002.

Spain became the first country in the world to give full marriage and adoption rights to homosexual couples in 2005.

DID YOU KNOW?

The modern day guitar was invented in Spain, when a sixth string was added to the Arab lute.

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