Introduction

José María Aznar López was elected prime minister in 1996, representing the right-wing Partido Popular (PP; formally the Francoist Alianza Popular). He ended a 14-year rule by the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) led by Felipe González Márquez. Aznar’s market-led economic policies and labour reforms brought increased prosperity, lower unemployment and successful entry into the single European currency, but he failed to resolve the ongoing dispute with the Basque nationalists, ETA. He has also faced public unease over his support of the USA’s aggressive policy towards Iraq. Following terrorist attacks on Madrid shortly before the elections of March 2004, Aznar’s PP were unexpectedly voted out of government.

Early Life

Aznar was born on 25 Feb. 1953 in Madrid. His father and grandfather both held government posts under General Franco. Aznar studied law at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, after which he worked as a tax inspector in Valladolid. He became active in the Francoist Alianza Popular in the 1970s, becoming secretary-general of his local branch in 1979 and deputy of the Avila region in 1982. After a year as vice-president of the newly created PP, Aznar was elected party president in 1989. In 1995 Aznar survived a car bomb attack thought to be perpetrated by ETA.

Continued re-election of the PSOE at the expense of the Alianza Popular between 1982–96 was largely a consequence of the popular distrust of any party with Francoist connections. Aznar decided to reinvent the party. With a new name, he attracted a younger membership and pulled the PP to the centre of the political scale. His 1996 electoral campaign benefited from emerging PSOE corruption scandals even though the PSOE’s campaign warned Aznar’s leadership would threaten health, welfare and trade unions. The PP claimed 38.2% of votes, narrowly beating the PSOE. Without a majority, Aznar was forced to seek the backing of the Catalan nationalist Convergencia i Unio party (Convergence and Union) and the Partido Nacionalista Vasco, promising regional concessions.

Career Peak

On election Aznar pledged to reduce an unemployment rate of 23% and lower Spain’s debt using market-based economic reforms. He implemented austerity measures to meet the economic criteria of the Maastricht Treaty. He continued the PSOE’s privatization policy, selling the steel industry. He reformed employment laws, which had kept a third of Spaniards on short-term contracts, and reduced the top level income tax. Aznar’s first term was economically successful. Unemployment was down to 15% by 2000, the economy grew by a fifth, Spain qualified for the single currency and its standing in the EU strengthened. Aznar appointed several independents to his government, including some from the left, thus easing Spaniards’ fears of a return to right-wing dictatorship.

In 2000 elections Aznar won a second term and an absolute PP majority with 183 out of 350 parliamentary seats. His policy focused on encouraging small- and medium-sized businesses and continuing labour reforms. Companies were given financial incentives to employ 16–30-year-olds, women (especially those returning to work after childbirth) and the over-55s.

Despite economic success, the overwhelming issue was combating continued ETA violence, which had intensified over the 2000 election period. His initial hardline tactics appeared to be working when ETA announced a ceasefire in Sept. 1998 but this was revoked 14 months later. 2000 saw 33 people killed by ETA terrorism. A lower vote for Euskal Herritarrok, ETA’s political coalition, in the May 2001 regional elections did not benefit the PP since nationalist sentiments remained high. Aznar rejected calls for multi-party peace talks on the recent Northern Ireland model and calls for a referendum on Basque separation. He went further in Aug. 2002, when a reconvened parliament voted 295 to 10 to ban ETA’s political wing, Herri Batasuna, a move bolstered by a court ruling suspending party activities for 3 years.

On an international level, increasingly sour relations with Morocco came to a head in July 2002 when Moroccan troops landed on the uninhabited island of Perejil, 200 metres off the Moroccan coast. Spanish troops quickly retook the island, but the discord highlighted tensions over Spain’s ownership of two enclaves on the Moroccan mainland, Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco had withdrawn its ambassador from Spain in Oct. 2001.

Aznar was criticized for his handling of the Prestige oil spillage off the coast of Galicia in Nov. 2002. During the preparations for war in Iraq in early 2003, he received further domestic criticism for his support of President Bush’s policy towards Saddam Hussein. Aznar survived a secret parliamentary ballot by 184 votes to 164 but popular opinion remained largely anti-war. In May 2003 Spain co-sponsored a draft UN resolution with the US and UK on Iraq’s post-war future. Having announced his intention to step down before the March 2004 general elections, his nominated successor and first deputy prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, was chosen as leader of the PP in Sept. 2003.

On 11 March 2004, Madrid’s rail network was hit by a series of terrorist attacks that killed 191. Aznar’s government blamed ETA in the aftermath but evidence soon pointed to a link with North Africa. At the general elections 3 days later, the PP suffered a backlash and were unexpectedly defeated by the PSOE. Aznar left office on 17 April 2004.