Carlos Arias Navarro

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Carlos Arias Navarro (Madrid, December 11, 1908 – November 27, 1989) was one of the best known Spanish politicians during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

He served in the Ministry of Justice since 1929 as attorney in Málaga and Madrid. Arias was close to the right-wing sectors and joined the Francoist side during the Spanish Civil War. He was public prosecutor in the trials set up by the triumphant rightists against true or perceived sympathizers of the Republican side: the repression in Málaga was among the most vicious, with some 20,000 people assassinated by Franco's Nationalists, with or without "legal" sanction ^[1].

After serving in different positions, including mayor of Madrid, he became Minister of Governance in June 1973. After the assassination of the Prime Minister (Presidente del Gobierno) Luis Carrero Blanco he became the new Prime Minister, a position that he held after the death of Franco. Arias Navarro had the support of the Franco family, most notably Carmen Polo, and retained it during the transition to democracy. However, the execution of the Catalan anarchist Salvador Puig Antich in March 1974 had already shown his aversion for a political opening, while others events displayed his weaknesses: executions in September 1974, the organization of the Green March in November 1975 by King Hassan II of Morocco, and the disease of Franco which he managed with difficulties weakened his rule. Arias Navarro announced Franco's death on television.

Franco's successor as Head of State, the king Juan Carlos I, deposited his trust in Arias Navarro's first government and presided the first reforms. However, Arias Navarro lacked the necessary leadership, and was continuously concurrenced by others ministers, in particular Manuel Fraga Iribarne and José María de Areilza. Seeing himself as Franco's political heir, he tried to continue the late dictator's policies and continually opposed political reforms. After a lengthy power struggle, this led to his firing by Juan Carlos I, with Arias Navarro resigning on July 1, 1976. The next day, he was granted the title of Marquis of Arias Navarro with Grandee of Spain.

He was succeeded by Adolfo Suárez, named general secretary of the Francoist official party Movimiento Nacional in December 1975. In June 1977, during the first free general elections held since 1936, Arias Navarro integrated the Alianza Popular, a Francoist party created by Manuel Fraga. He then led the Búnker group of hard-liners opposed to any reforms, along with the leader of the neo-fascist party Fuerza Nueva, Blas Piñar. Arias Navarro, however, never occupied a relevant position in the Spanish government again.

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