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| 1978, Sept. 28 |
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| A new constitution was approved by the Cortes. It recognized constitutional monarchy as the basic form of government, provided for regional autonomy, and disestablished the Church. It was approved by 87 percent of the vote in a national referendum in December (though with 32 percent abstention by conservatives). | 1 |
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| Oct. 5 |
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| Prime Minister Suarez and parties on the Left arrived at the Moncloa Pact, which promised to index wage increases to inflation, raise welfare benefits, and introduce the progressive income tax. By February 1978, Suarez said the pact was “virtually dead” when the Left challenged his cabinet's weak economic efforts. In 1979 a government wage ceiling provoked new labor unrest, and national economic difficulties led to an unsuccessful censure motion in the Cortes against Suarez. | 2 |
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| Nov.–Dec |
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| The new monarchy enacted the first constitutional reform, the Political Reform Law. The law included the acceptance of popular sovereignty, universal suffrage, and political pluralism. The law created a bicameral Cortes, composed of a Congress of 350 deputies elected by proportional representation and a Senate of 207 elected by a simple majority. The law also stipulated that the king could submit bills, dissolve the Cortes, and call new elections. In a national referendum, the law was affirmed by 90 percent of the vote. In February 1979, the Cortes amended the law by barring the military from politics. | 3 |
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