Aragonese Socialism: Territorial Obedience, Federalism and Autonomous Possibilism (1976-1983)

Abstract

In the transition towards democracy, two models of socialism fought for leadership in the Aragonese Left. The federalist Socialist Party of Aragon (PSA), with solid arguments for self-management and autonomy, nourished high expectations before the first democratic elections. With a poorer structure and support, though sheltered by its history, the alternative option, represented by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), won that “battle” on June 15, 1977. This triggered the PSA crisis, with the transfer of supporters to PSOE, and a process of unification that became in fact a takeover. Thus the Aragonese PSOE assumed a more explicit territorial discourse, embodied by some former PSA members. From 1979, they would lead the regional executive. In 1983 they became the first elected Aragonese government, after a process towards autonomous government in which PSOE evolved from possibilism to protagonism.

Keywords

• aragón
• socialismo
• transición a la democracia
• federalismo
• proceso autonómico