Upsurge or even a revolution. But now there is democracy — of a sort onfident predictions have been shown •ver-optimistic.
socialist Party (PSOE).
lass party.
OF THE major parties, the PSOE has probably the clearest project.
General secretary:
Gonzaler says that the PSOE sees the possibility of coming to power WILE absolute parliamentary seething i scared to this something near It even provisional Timetable for this trade union and local elections and approva. othe Consitution tor 1978, and dissolution of the (parliament) and new legislative surprise to see a Socialist Party come in from the political wilderness with a bright new image and heavy outside okie notes in hi of the votes the first semi-democratic elections for 40 years.
The PSOE was under little pressure on its left because of DOLLIES Communist Party (PCE). The As the second largest party in theCortes, with more than three timesthevotesandtivetses Lid deputies of the PCE, it has set about cashing in on this position to build up its prestige and Image-conscious, cultivated the use of the mass media lo enlance the effect of its political initiatives, Gonzalez' trips abroad to nicet foreign heads of government.
Ithas not been above resorting to political stunts", such Gonzalez* much intervention 10 secure held by Saharan nationalists. SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 20 April 1978 page 12 ven a year ago no-one really believed that democracy | enterasa constituted tendency. | ould come to Spain without a massive working class FRED FAIRBAIRN in Bilbao looks at the party which came from nowhere to be the largest working The PSOE has parliamentary weight to lever itself intor a favourable position mine are autonomy bodies in the regions and nationalitics Instead of mobilising in the streets except in the mos controlled it has used negotiation and behind-the-scenes dealing Cortes revealed ute Tbe 1973 possibilicy systen. albeit an 'Imperfect one. In different ways and for dilferent reasons both major PSOE bourgeois attempting to help this trend. This means marginalising the PCE a source chagrin and protests by the latter other "lesser political forma bons.
So it was that the PSOE supported law discriminates agatest smaller The PSOE's pian hegemons on the left involves 'mopping up" the socialist earles Somemembers of the Federation of Socialist Parties and the bulk of the 'Historic sector of the PSOE have already been absorbed.
has Negotiations are under way for the incarporation of the two wines of the strong Lara an like Socialist Party, though some opposition has been encountered over the the party in Catalonia.
The next target is the Popular Socialist Party.
the Professor Tierno which got nearly 800,000 votes in June. The PSP demanded to TIERNO: the PSP leader is next in the PSOE bomb-sights Tendencies are banned in the PSOF and many oppositionists -and our silenced or expelled. As in all be other cases the roE yielded next to nothing to the smaller party.
Faced with dissension in his embargo on meetings of the PSP rank and Gile.
The sticking point for many members insistence that union esshould pass overtothe used is PSOE backed eventeftle PSP's coury into the PSOE some soctions may join the PCE One of the main lessons the PSOE has drawn fromother West Euroean fashion above all Portugal, powerful wheelerparliamentary condition WITh it 25 CLIE Party to be able to govern as such. Socauss Can Hope govern without tracte clections CALAMI Uaf enough, but a tightly run union could do the trick. clation of cause between a strong PSOE and a strong DOt, and vice versa, says Gonzalez. are TRADITION of much Two years self-righteous year ago and weak. The Workers" the Workers Connis roach the 1960, had for But under the new conditions which of bourgeois democracy several things were favour, Its historical tradition 1o win For one thing, and the failure of the PCE smaller Workers' campaign resolutely for trade union unity.
The number members has grown hugely over the past year or so. bureaucratic USO Cnica), an independent "selfdegree of part of the leadership was captured, though only a small portion of the rank and file. headed Galvan, tions show UGT firmly in sooond place, distance, behind the Workers even has a narrow lead.
Socialise been buresucratica. ly -МНЯ dertocracy.
party's (Ele PSOE'S all trade LOt. In the ward'. dismissed the PCE countries 'ridiculously is that HIC 'identified" indispensable the Socialist Though he union dangers', Votes at elections are bot expect to "There is a and effect practice such Fouth ar ar he LiCT was very even one wave leadership the UCT'S whole leadership of the actually Commissions of UGT the UGT in smash-and-grab Revolutionary (Workers Leapue members were PSOE line The current workplace elec.
tendencies revised possibuilty.
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a working class desire for APPARATUS
So how was Spain saved for capitalism — at least emporarily? A large part of the answer lies with the
by TWO-PARTY