The Spanish Welfare State Comes of Age: Social Policy and the Socialists, 1982–96

Abstract

The arrival in government of PSOE under prime minister González, in 1982, was the ultimate mark of democratic consolidation and the adoption of political majoritarianism, just one year after the abortive coup. Centre-right parties ceded power to the left without provoking political or social instability, and the socialist politicians, largely republican in sympathy, proved themselves more than willing to work within the constitutional monarchy that was the new Spain (Pridham, 1990). As discussed in the preceding chapter, González’s victory was, in no small measure, due to the fractiousness of the previous UCD-led government, particularly over divorce legislation. Important, too, was the rapidly proven track record of PSOE in local government.