Spain and Portugal 2005 CE

What is happening in Spain and Portugal in 2005CE

In Spain, Franco dies in 1975, and the monarchy was restored in the person of king Juan Carlos (1975). Under his guidance multi-party democracy has become firmly established.

In March, 2004, Spain suffered one of the deadliest terrorist attacks the world has seen, as commuter trains in Madrid were bombed.

Portugal’s dictator Dr Salazar resigned in 1968, but authoritarian rule did not give way to a multi-party democracy until 1976. Meanwhile, Portugal’s position as the last major European colonial power in Africa had become increasingly untenable, and the process of withdrawal from Angola and Mozambique was hurriedly carried out in 1974, leaving both countries unprepared for independence and sliding into chaos.

Spain’s economy in particular has experienced remarkable expansion and modernization. Both countries have benefited from mass tourism, mainly from northern Europe. Both Spain and Portugal joined the EU in 1986.