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Adolfo Surez Adolfo Surez Gonzlez (September 25, 1932) Spanish politician and statesman. Born in Cebreros, vila province, Surez became Spain's first democratically elected President of the Government (i.e., Prime Minister) after the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. He studied Law at the Complutense University in Madrid and held several government posts during the Francoist regime. He became the Secretary-general of the National Movement (Movimiento Nacional), that acted as the single party, for 18 years and following the death of Franco in late 1975. For this reason, centrist and leftist supporters opposed his appointment as President of the Government by King Juan Carlos I in July1976. Surez was chosen by the monarch to lead the country towards a democratic, parliamentary monarchy. Surprising many observers and political opponents, Surez introduced Political Reform in 1976 as a first, decisive step in the Transition (Transicin) to democracy. In 1977 he led the Democratic Center Union (Unin de Centro Democrtico, UCD) to victory in Spain's first free elections in 41 years, and became the first democratically elected Prime Minister after the Franco regime. His centrist government instituted democratic reforms, and his coalition again won the 1979 elections under the new constitution. Less successful as a day-to-day organizer than as a crisis manager, he was replaced as premier in 1981. In 1982 he founded Democratic and Social Center (Centro Democrtico y Social, CDS) party, which never achieved the success of UCD. He retired from active politics in 1991, for political party and family reasons. Surez won the "Prncipe de Asturias a la Concordia" award in September 1996, in recognition of his important personal contribution to Spanish democracy. The King of Spain made him Duke of vila. Family Both his wife, Amparo Illana Elrtegui, and elder daughter, Marian Surez Illana, suffered and died from cancers (in 2001 and 2004, respectively). Another daughter, Sonsoles Surez Illana, became a TV news anchor for Antena 3. Son Adolfo Surez Illana was chosen by Jos Mara Aznar as the People's Party (PP) candidate for the post of president of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha, but lost against incumbent Jos Bono, of the Partido Socialista Obrero Espaol (PSOE). Surez has two more siblings, Laura and Javier. See also Surez, Adolfo Surez, Adolfo
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