Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

THE HIST OR Y OF NOR THERN SP AIN  47

during 1937. One of the most notorious
episodes of the war was the Nazi bombing
of the Basque town of Gernika.
The Nationalists ultimately triumphed.
With the end of the war in 1939, Franco’s
dictatorship began. Devas tated and
impoverished, the country stood in
internation al isolation until the 1950s.
Republicans suffered repres sion and
many were forced into exile. In the Mass demonstration against ETA, the Basque separatist group
centralized state, regional diversity was
repressed. The use of the Catalan and In 1985 it joined NATO, and in 1986 became
Basque lan guages was prohibited, there a member of the European Union. The Olym-
was moral censorship, and political pic Games were staged in Barcelona in 1992.
parties were banned. The 1960s saw The 1996 general election was won by
the emergence of the violent campaign the centre-right People’s Party (PP). Spain
of the Basque separatist group, ETA. enjoyed further economic success, but the
government’s decision to send troops to
Modern Spain Iraq was unpopular. After coordinated
Franco died in 1975, having named Juan Islamic terrorist bombings of four Madrid
Carlos I (grandson of Alfonso XIII) as his trains in 2004, the govern ment initially
successor. The country’s transition to blamed ETA, but as the truth emerged the
democracy was relatively peaceful. Political Socialists (PSOE) gained popularity and were
parties were legalized, and in 1978 a new voted into power. The 2008 global financial
constitution declared Spain a crisis hit Spain especially
parlia mentary monarchy. The hard, resulting in widespread
constitution granted unemployment that has
autonomous status to Spain’s persisted since. The People’s
regions, which enabled the Party were returned to power
Basque Country, Galicia, in 2011, led by Mariano Rajoy,
Asturias and Cantabria to set who vowed to tackle Spain’s
up local administrations from economic problems. In 2014,
1979 onwards. However, in King Juan Carlos I abdicated
the Basque Country this still in favour of his son Felipe VI.
did not satisfy ETA, and In 2016, the country entered
terrorism became one of a state of political deadlock
Spain’s constant problems. after two successive general
In 1982 Spain elected its King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia elections failed to provide a
first Socialist government. at an official function ruling majority.

1979 Catalonia, Basque Country 2002 2004 On 11 March Islamic extremists carry out a terrorist
and Galicia granted autonomy Spain attack in Madrid; on 14 March PSOE wins the general election
adopts
1997 Museo Guggenheim the euro 2006 In March ETA declares a permanent ceasefire
opens in Bilbao 2007 ETA breaks ceasefire
1980 2000 2020
1975 Death 1986 Spain joins the EEC 2008 2014 King Juan Carlos I abdicates; his son
of Franco (now the European Union) Zapatero’s ascends to the throne to become Felipe VI
(20 Nov) PSOE
2003 As an ally of the USA, party re- 2011 ETA declares another permanent ceasefire;
Spain sends troops to Iraq elected Mariano Rajoy of the PP wins the general election
General Franco

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