Andalusia’s Road to Autonomy

Discover the documents that tell the story of how Andalusia achieved autonomy

By Andalusian Archives

Archivo General de Andalucía

"Once upon a time...". Illustration for a comic about the referendum on autonomy held in Andalusia on February 28th, 1980 (1980-02) by Consejería de GobernaciónAndalusian Archives

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 established a new structure that enabled the self-government of nationalities and regions. Andalusia decided to shape its powerful identity politically as a nationality marked by history, culture, and tradition.

The Archivo General de Andalucía (General Archive of Andalusia) houses an important part of the written memory of that process, which was only just beginning.

A group of people attend the tribute paid to Juan Diaz del Moral in his hometown, Bujalance (Córdoba) (1980, April, 20) by Pablo JuliáAndalusian Archives

Background

The historical origins of the movement towards autonomy can be traced back to the 19th century. However, it was in the first decades of the 20th century, and particularly during the Second Republic, when the foundations of the modern concept of autonomy were established, along with Andalusian symbols of identity (such as its flag and anthem).

Blas Infante was a key figure in the movement for Andalusian autonomy, but a number of other names were involved in the struggle. They included Juan Díaz del Moral (1870–1948), a public notary and pioneering historian who studied the social history of Andalusian peasants. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Agrupación al Servicio de la República (Association of Service to the Republic) in 1931, and would go on to participate in the Autonomist Assembly of Córdoba in 1933.

When the current era of autonomy began, the Regional Government of Andalusia (or "Junta") worked to recover the lost memory of these forefathers.

Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de Andalucia Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de Andalucia (1978-06-02) by Consejería de PresidenciaAndalusian Archives

The first steps

Even before the Constitution was ratified, the beginnings of the government structure needed to make headway on the road to autonomy were already in place, although it had no actual power.

Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de AndaluciaAndalusian Archives

In that session, 10 executive councils were established, along with their distribution amongst the political groups that made up the Council at the time.

Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de AndaluciaAndalusian Archives

The composition of the committees of transferral between the Provincial Councils and the Regional Government, and between the Central Government and Regional Government, was also determined.

Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de AndaluciaAndalusian Archives

It was agreed that a committee would be established to draft the Internal Rules and Regulations of the Regional Government, and that the Provincial Councils would be asked to make offices available to members of the Council in the provinces in which they would reside.

Minutes of the first Permanent Council of the Junta de AndaluciaAndalusian Archives

The proceedings were closed with the signatures of the President and the Secretary General.

Plácido Fernández Viagas, first president of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) presents the Pact for Autonomy (1978-10-03) by Pablo JuliáAndalusian Archives

The pre-Autonomous stage

The magistrate Plácido Fernández Viagas (1924–82), a socialist senator, was chosen to preside over the Regional Government of Andalusia in its pre-autonomous stage.

In this image, the president, accompanied by the socialist leaders Manuel del Valle Arévalo and Miguel Ángel Pino Menchén, is announcing the Pacto Autonómico Andaluz (Andalusian Autonomy Pact) to the media.

Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia (1978-12-04) by Pleno de la Junta de AndalucíaAndalusian Archives

Pacto Autonómico Andaluz (Andalusian Autonomy Pact)

A personal initiative of Plácido Fernández Viagas, the Autonomy Pact was signed in Antequera just one year after December 4, 1977, when around two million people protested throughout Andalusia demanding autonomy.

Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia (1978-12-04)Andalusian Archives

The document sets out the following proposals to the political parties:

In the first proposal, the political parties commit to drive and develop efforts to procure autonomy for Andalusia.

In the second proposal, the political parties commit to further the initiative for the process of autonomy, within the Andalusian Regional Government and using appropriate constitutional means.

Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia (1978-12-04)Andalusian Archives

They shall support specific initiatives in the courts for the procurement of autonomy for Andalusia, as well as supporting the project on the Statute of Autonomy created by the Regional Government, and advocating for its ratification.

Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia (1978-12-04)Andalusian Archives

This second proposal also specifies that the political parties must "support, in the scope of the principle of solidarity, the legislative and governmental processes aimed at eliminating the economic and social differences that exist between Andalusia and other nationalities and regions of Spain."

Pact for the Autonomy of Andalusia (1978-12-04)Andalusian Archives

The third proposal states that there will be more prompt support for the process of transferring powers.

The people who signed the pact were: José Rodríguez de la Borbolla (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party-Socialist Party of Andalusia); José Rodríguez Alcaide (Union of the Democratic Center); Fernando Soto (Communist Party of Spain); Miguel Sánchez Cañete (People's Alliance); Alejandro Rojas-Marcos (Socialist Party of Andalusia); Isidoro Moreno (Workers' Party of Andalusia); Manuel López Portillo (Andalusian Christian Democracy); Fernando Giménez Girón (Democratic Left); Pedro Ruíz Berdejo (Social Reform for Andalusia); Juan Ceada Infante (Workers' Revolutionary Organization); and José Lorca Navarrete (Liberal Citizens Action).

March in Seville on Andalusia National Day (1979-12-02) by Portavoz del Gobierno.Andalusian Archives

Protests in favor of autonomy

More than a million Andalusians, organized by the Regional Government of Andalusia under the slogan “Andalusia for itself, for Spain, and for Humanity,” took to the streets of Andalusia's main cities on December 2, 1979.

This image was taken at the junction of the Avenida de la Constitución and Plaza Nueva in Seville, where around 200,000 people participated in a day of protest. It was only marred by a few incidents at the end of the march that were started by extreme-right groups, whose headquarters were at the end of the route.

Institutional propaganda poster for the 28F referendum in Andalusia (1980-02-01) by Consejería de Gobernación.Andalusian Archives

The referendum that allowed Andalusians to decide their political future took place on February 28, 1980.

Institutional propaganda poster for the 28th February 1980 referendum for autonomy in Andalusia (1980-02-28) by Consejería de GobernaciónAndalusian Archives

The date of February 28 has been engraved in the collective memory of the entire region and has officially been named Andalusia Day.

Plenary session of the “Junta de Andalucía” in the Alcázar of Seville (1980-09-26) by Plenary session of the “Junta de Andalucía”Andalusian Archives

The highest level of autonomy, as quickly as possible

The result of the referendum was supported by a majority in every province except Almería. But it brought with it some hurdles that needed to be overcome to achieve the autonomy described in Article 151 of the Constitution—the highest level of autonomy, as fast as possible. That was preferable to the kind set out in Article 143, which would be slower and less extensive.

The photograph shows the extraordinary plenary session of the Regional Government of Andalusia, which took place on September 26, 1980 in the Admiral’s Hall in the Royal Palace of Seville. It was in this session that the Article 151 route was ratified over the other proposals.

The proposers of the Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia (1981-01-12) by Pablo JuliáAndalusian Archives

The statute of carmona

Having overcome the obstacles to autonomy, the final committee responsible for producing the Draft Statute was established on December 4, 1980. The document was called the Statute of Carmona, because the men who drafted it met in the state-run hotel there.

This photograph captures them taking a break from their work. They are, from left to right: Javier Pérez Royo (Communist Party of Spain); Juan Carlos Aguilar (Socialist Party of Andalusia); José Rodríguez de la Borbolla (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party); Carlos Rosado and Pedro Luis Serrera (Union of the Democratic Center); and Miguel Ángel Pino and Ángel López (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party).

Institutional propaganda poster for the referendum on the 1981 Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia (1981-10-20) by Consejería de GobernaciónAndalusian Archives

The referendum on the statute of autonomy

Once the legal and political barriers were overcome, Andalusians were finally called to the polls to vote on the statute on October 20, 1981.

“In a single Spain, a single Andalusia. We have arrived.” Poster for the referendum on the statute of autonomy held on October 20th 1981 (1981-10-01/1981-10-20) by Consejería de GobernaciónAndalusian Archives

The affirmative vote of Andalusians in the 1981 referendum on the Statute of Autonomy marked the end of the pre-autonomous era. It was the start of a process that began with the first elections to the Parliament of Andalusia on May 23, 1982, and continues to this day.

This poster's slogan refers to Article 1 of the approved statute, which defines Andalusia as an “Autonomous Community within the framework of the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation.”

Credits: Story

Andalusia’s Road to Autonomy

Organized by:
Ministry of Culture and Heritage of the Regional Government of Andalusia

Curator: Francisco Trujillo Domenech
Text: Francisco Trujillo Domenech and Abilio Aguilar Diosdado
General Archive of Andalusia
Photography: Francisco Trujillo Domenech
Digital Exhibition: Charo Andreu Abrio.
Directorate General of Cultural Innovation and Museums.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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