Adolfo Suárez

Adolfo Suárez was the eldest son of Hipólito Suárez Guerra and Herminia González Prados (Ávila, 1910 – 18 July 2006), and the brother of Hipólito, María del Carmen (who is married to Aurelio Delgado Martín), Ricardo and José María. He was born in Cebreros. He later studied law at Salamanca University.

Suárez held several government posts during the late Francoist regime. He became the Minister Secretary General of the National Movement (Movimiento Nacional), a body that served as the sole political party in Spain for 38 years, a period that extended beyond the death of Franco in November 1975. At a rally just a month before Franco's death, Suárez was queried by the aging Caudillo on the political future of Spain and told him frankly that the Movement would not likely long survive Franco and that democratization was inevitable. Suárez was appointed as the 138th Prime Minister of Spain by King Juan Carlos on 3 July 1976, a move opposed by leftists and some centrists given his Francoist history. As a nationalist, he was chosen by the monarch to lead the country towards a democratic, parliamentary monarchy without annoying the powerful conservative factions (especially the military) in the nation. Surprising many observers and political opponents, Suárez introduced Political Reform in 1976 as a first, decisive step in the transition to democracy (La Transición).

In 1977, Suárez led the Union of the Democratic Centre (Unión de Centro Democrático, UCD) to victory in Spain's first free elections in 41 years, and became the first democratically-elected prime minister of the post-Franco regime.

Suárez's centrist government instituted democratic reforms, and his coalition won the 1979 elections under the new constitution. Less successful as a day-to-day organiser than as a crisis manager, he resigned as Prime Minister on 29 January 1981. A month later, as parliament was taking a vote to confirm Suárez's replacement as Prime Minister Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, parliament was disrupted by the entrance of Lieutenant Colonel Tejero and his attempted coup. The 23-F coup attempt ("El Tejerazo") shook the government, but was defeated. In 1982, Suárez founded the Democratic and Social Centre (Centro Democrático y Social, CDS) party, which never achieved the success of UCD, though Suárez and its party were important elements in the Liberal International, joining it in 1988, leading to it being renamed Liberal and Progressive International, and Suárez became President of the Liberal International in 1988. He retired from active politics in 1991, for personal reasons.

Former Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez went to Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1981.

In 1981, he was raised into the Spanish nobility by King Juan Carlos of Spain and given the hereditary title of "Duque de Suárez" (Duke of Suárez), together with the title Grande de España (English: Grandee of Spain) following his resignation as Prime Minister and in recognition of his role in the transition to democracy. Suárez was awarded the Príncipe de Asturias a la Concordia in September 1996 for his role in Spain's early democracy. On 8 June 2007, during the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections, King Juan Carlos appointed Suárez the 1,193rd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. He was also a member of the Club de Madrid, an independent organization (based in Madrid) that is composed of more than 80 former democratic Prime Ministers and Presidents. The group works to strengthen democratic governance and leadership.

Suarez's grave in the cloister of Ávila Cathedral

On 31 May 2005, Suárez's son, Adolfo Suárez Illana, announced on Spanish television that his father was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and could no longer remember his period as Prime Minister of Spain. The announcement followed speculation about Suárez's health in the Spanish media. On 21 March 2014, his son announced that his death from neurological deterioration was imminent. Suárez then died as a result of a respiratory infection on 23 March 2014 in a clinic in Madrid. Suarez was given a state funeral and was buried in the cloister of Ávila Cathedral.

Pope Francis, in an official telegram message of condolence, sent by the Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, to the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Avila, Bishop Jesus Garcia Burillo, stated: "With great sadness I received the sad news of the death of His Excellency, The Honourable Former Prime Minister of Spain, Lord Adolfo Suarez. I express to you my sincerest condolences. In fraternal suffrage with you all, I make fervent prayers to the Lord for the eternal rest of this esteemed and feature figure of the recent history of Spain. Mindful of these feelings, and in company with you all and with his grieving family, I impart the Apostolic Blessing as a sign of Christian hope in the Risen Lord."

On 26 March 2014, the Spanish government decided to rename the Madrid-Barajas airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in honour of his service to the country.

Suárez's wife, María del Amparo Illana Elórtegui, and elder daughter, María del Amparo ("Marian") Suárez Illana, suffered and died from cancer (on 17 May 2001 and 7 March 2004, respectively).

His middle daughter, Laura, was born in 1962. She married, in 1998, and became the mother of two children, Alejandra Romero Suárez (b. 1990) and Fernando Romero Suárez (b. 1993). Suarez' youngest daughter, María Sonsoles Suárez Illana (born in Madrid in 1967), became a TV news anchor for Antena 3 and married José María Martínez-Bordiú y Bassó de Roviralta, born in Madrid on 22 November 1962. He was a nephew of Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú, the son-in-law of Francisco Franco; the couple is without issue.

Suárez's eldest son, Adolfo Suárez Illana, was a politician, who now practises law and is heavily involved with the world of bullfighting. Suárez had two more children, his daughter Laura and his son Francisco Javier; both remain unmarried.

His State Funeral was scheduled for Monday, 31 March 2014 In Bilbao

Titles and styles

• Mr. Adolfo Suárez (1932–1976).
• The Most Excellent Adolfo Suárez, Prime Minister of Spain (1976–1981).
• The Most Excellent The Duke of Suárez, Grandee of Spain (1981–2007).
• The Most Excellent The Duke of Suárez, Grandee of Spain, KOGF (2007–2014).
• The Most Excellent The Duke of Suárez, Grandee of Spain, KOGF OCIII (Posthumous).

Honors

• Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain (1,193rd member, 8 June 2007).
• Collar of the Order of Charles III (Posthumous, 24 March 2014).
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (23 June 1978).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (29 September 1973).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (18 July 1969).
• Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (1 April 1970).
  • Commander's Cross (1 April 1967).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit (1 April 1972).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Cisneros (18 July 1972).
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Yoke and the Arrows (4 July 1975).
• Grand Cross of the Military Merit with White Decoration (14 September 1970).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal) (20 April 1978).
• Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty (Portugal) (22 February 1996).

Awards

• Gold Medal of Segovia (17 November 1969).
• Gold Medal of Ávila (12 February 1981). Received on 9 June 2005.
• Adopted Son of Ávila (12 February 1981). Received on 9 June 2005.
• Alfonso X the Wise International Prize in Toledo (21 October 1994).
• Gold Medal of Madrid (30 November 1995). Received on 10 November 1998.
• Honorary Degree by the Complutense University of Madrid (28 May 1996).
• Prince of Asturias Concord Award (13 September 1996).
• Coexistence Award of Ceuta (30 April 1999).
• Gold Medal of Castilla y León (22 March 1997).
• Medal of Honor of Madrid (15 May 2011).
• Adopted Son of Madrid (Posthumous, 27 March 2014).

Arms

Arms of Adolfo Suárez

Notes He was created Grandee as Duke of Suárez in 1981. Coronet Coronet of Spanish Grandee. Escutcheon Or, two towers Argent, masoned Sable, surmounted by two eagles volant and combatant Sable on a terrace in base Vert charged with an Escallop Argent. Orders Order of the Golden Fleece and Order of Charles III collars. Other elements An heraldic mantle used by the Spanish Grandee. Symbolism The arms of the Castilian branch of Suárez differenced by an Escallop Argent, the traditional emblem of James, son of Zebedee, commonly used in Galicia, because 1st Duke of Suárez's paternal family had Galician origins. Previous versions Coat of arms bore as knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.