FELIPE GONZALEZ: the let-serting Sociellet Party leader, firmly defending Spanish capitalism statement of fact.
Democratie their only asset of couched Those when the CYNICISM Fascist was now lican flags at his rallies; he knows is far Suartz and his backers the crucinl Like the PCE current in the which was what At first sight it may seem Irrational that Adolfo Suarez is the most successful Prime Minister in Europe. No, I haven't fallen under the man's spell.
While other European leaders see their policies undermined by a lottering economy and working class upsurge, Suarez - with the help of the peculiarly obliging reformists parties of the working class - has seen his reform project carried out to perfection. No, It is a It is no accident that the Centre relying almost entirely on Suarez" preslige to carry them to electoral letory. The Centre Is a loose federation ol moderale capitals parties, formed by a group of Technocrsts and cureer politiciane with little popular base. Sunrez is When be came to office les ment. And i government was almost unt were the days "bunker" looked on raga as a sort of reincarnatio The political cynicism which ist Party thorough reform of the system A secies of manoeuvres isolated first the Francoist diehards and then Fraga and the 'neo-Francoproblem was how eutralise the workers movemen hoard. an exercise which it carried out by a combination of severe Phone 01-236 3081 for venue. free clections" repression - the murder of fift gover witsental reform. And the lynchpin of the project was the working class The Socialist and Communis Parties needed no estatery to dictatorshin and enter into direc negotiations with the Coser compromise it shed Sulay was char his repuration as astatesman.
The reformists could he relied upou to keep their distaste fo repression on a purely far left mulicants after the fascist killings in January the Connun then proceeded to the Prime Minister' handling of the crisis. damp down the stmigele in th could be relied upon to oppressed nationalities — a tacti vlach will rebound on them hourgeois nationulis parties of Galicia, Catalonia anc the Hasque country sweep the Most of all, they i could be relied upon to confine working ADOLFO SUAREZ class action to one off proteil marches, like tbe November Day of Struggle against the austent plan. If is worth remembering the struggle against the dictator shin has gone on unchecked, l be area where the Communis Party is weakest Thete is no doubt that Suarez vill gain a large part of the vo with certainty of a Centre major ity — simply becaase he is seen a the man who made the elections possible It will be a sincere voce for democracy; and the responsibil ity for that massive illusion lie with the working class partie who have codorsed his demo The basis for Surer" sucoess is •fragile one. It presupposes tha serious condition of anish economy ce overlight and that workers wil Suarez may win the elections though it is a brave poodií who i prepared to bet on the result. It would be an even braver orie wbo hazarded a guess as to how long be would remain in power, which means a final break with the
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London IMG Battle of Ideas public meeting SPAIN AFTER THE ELECTION Speaker: Richard Carver [International Editor, Socialist Challenge] Tues. 5 July 7.30pm