Premise: Liberal Citizens Action (in Spanish: "Acción Ciudadana Liberal") was a political party in Spain at the time of the transition to democracy. ACL emerged from the Liberal Federation ("Federación Liberal"), an alliance of five parties, in 1977. The president of the party was José María de Areilza, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1975-1976. Areilza had left Adolfo Suarez's Democratic Center Union (UCD).
Hypothesis: Prior to the transition to democracy in Spain, liberal political parties were persecuted.