# Second government of Adolfo Suárez

The second government of Adolfo Suárez was formed on 5 July 1977, following the latter's confirmation as Prime Minister of Spain by King Juan Carlos I on 17 June, as a result of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 1977 general election. It succeeded the first Suárez government and was the Government of Spain from 5 July 1977 to 6 April 1979, a total of 640 days, or 1 year, 9 months and 1 day.
Suárez's second cabinet was initially made up by independents and members from the political parties that had run within the UCD alliance, most of whom would end up joining it upon its transformation into a full-fledged political party. It was automatically dismissed on 2 March 1979 as a consequence of the 1979 general election, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.

## Cabinet changes

Suárez's second government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:
* On 1 September 1977, the Ministry of Culture and Welfare was renamed as Ministry of Culture, with a restructuring of the ministerial department that saw some of its competences transferred to other ministries, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
* On 27 September 1977, Ignacio Camuñas stepped down as Deputy Minister of Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio, over political discrepancies on the UCD's composition as a unitary political party. After his resignation, Camuñas's office was discontinued.
* On 11 February 1978, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo was appointed to the newly created post of Minister of Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio.
* On 25 February 1978, a major cabinet reshuffle resulting from the resignation of Enrique Fuentes Quintana saw Fernando Abril Martorell being reassigned as new Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy; Manuel Jiménez de Parga was replaced as Minister of Labour by Rafael Calvo Ortega; Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún replaced Alberto Oliart in the Ministry of Industry and Energy; Jaime Lamo de Espinosa became new Minister of Agriculture in place of José Enrique Martínez Genique; and the Ministry of Transport and Communications saw the change from José Lladó to Salvador Sánchez-Terán.
* On 23 March 1979, Landelino Lavilla was elected President of the Congress of Deputies of the 1st Legislature, a position incompatible with his post as acting Minister of Justice. Rodolfo Martín Villa, acting Minister of the Interior, took on the ordinary duties of the affairs of Lavilla's vacant ministry.

## Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the three deputy prime ministers and 18 ministries, including a number of deputy ministers without portfolio. From February 1978, the council would only include two deputy prime ministers.
← Suárez II Government → (5 July 1977 – 6 April 1979) :
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Prime Minister | Adolfo Suárez | | UCD (Ind.) | 17 June 1977 | 2 April 1979 | |
| First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defence | Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado | | Military | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | [19] [20] |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy | Enrique Fuentes Quintana | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | [20] [21] |
| Third Deputy Prime Minister | Fernando Abril Martorell | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Marcelino Oreja | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Justice | Landelino Lavilla | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 22 March 1979 | |
| Minister of Finance | Francisco Fernández Ordóñez | | UCD (PSD) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of the Interior | Rodolfo Martín Villa | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Public Works and Urbanism | Joaquín Garrigues Walker | | UCD (FPDL) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Education and Science | Íñigo Cavero | | UCD (PDC) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Labour | Manuel Jiménez de Parga | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | |
| Minister of Industry and Energy | Alberto Oliart | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | |
| Minister of Agriculture | José Enrique Martínez Genique | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | |
| Minister of Trade and Tourism | Juan Antonio García Díez | | UCD (PSD) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of the Presidency | José Manuel Otero | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | José Lladó | | UCD (Ind.) | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | |
| Minister of Health and Social Security | Enrique Sánchez de León | | UCD (AREX) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Culture and Welfare | Pío Cabanillas Gallas | | UCD (PP) | 5 July 1977 | 1 September 1977 | |
| Deputy Minister for the Regions, without portfolio | Manuel Clavero | | UCD (PSLA) | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio | Ignacio Camuñas | | UCD (PDP) | 5 July 1977 | 27 September 1977 | |
| Changes September 1977 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Culture | Pío Cabanillas Gallas | | UCD (PP) | 1 September 1977 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. | Discontinued on 30 September 1977 upon the officeholder's dismissal. |
| Changes February 1978 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy | Fernando Abril Martorell | | UCD | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | [24] [25] |
| Minister of Labour | Rafael Calvo Ortega | | UCD | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Industry and Energy | Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún | | UCD | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Agriculture | Jaime Lamo de Espinosa | | UCD | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | Salvador Sánchez-Terán | | UCD | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Minister for Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio | Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo | | UCD | 11 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | |
| Changes 1979 |||||||
| Portfolio | Name | Party | Party | Took office | Left office | Ref. |
| Minister of Justice | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. | Rodolfo Martín Villa took on the ordinary discharge of duties from 22 March 1979. |

## Departmental structure

Adolfo Suárez's second government is organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure may vary depending on the ministerial department.

### Unit/body rank

* (■) Secretary of state
* (■) Undersecretary
* (■) Director-general
* (●) Autonomous agency
* (◆) Military & intelligence agency
| Office (Original name) | Name | Took office | Left office | Alliance/party |
| Prime Minister's Office |||||||||
| Prime Minister (Presidencia del Gobierno) | Adolfo Suárez | 17 June 1977 | 2 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| First Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Primera del Gobierno) | Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (Military) |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno) | Enrique Fuentes Quintana | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | Independent |
| Second Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Segunda del Gobierno) | Fernando Abril Martorell | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Third Deputy Prime Minister (Vicepresidencia Tercera del Gobierno) (until 25 February 1978) | Fernando Abril Martorell | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs |||||||||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores) | Marcelino Oreja | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Justice |||||||||
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | Landelino Lavilla | 5 July 1977 | 22 March 1979 (renounced) | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) | Rodolfo Martín Villa (ordinary discharge of duties) | 22 March 1979 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Ministry of Defence |||||||||
| Ministry of Defence (Ministerio de Defensa) | Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (Military) |
| Ministry of Finance |||||||||
| Ministry of Finance (Ministerio de Hacienda) | Francisco Fernández Ordóñez | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; PSD until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of the Interior |||||||||
| Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior) | Rodolfo Martín Villa | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Public Works and Urbanism |||||||||
| Ministry of Public Works and Urbanism (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Urbanismo) | Joaquín Garrigues Walker | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; FPDL until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Education and Science |||||||||
| Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia) | Íñigo Cavero | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; PDC until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Labour |||||||||
| Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo) | Manuel Jiménez de Parga | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo) | Rafael Calvo Ortega | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Ministry of Industry and Energy |||||||||
| Ministry of Industry and Energy (Ministerio de Industria y Energía) | Alberto Oliart | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | UCD (Independent) |
| Ministry of Industry and Energy (Ministerio de Industria y Energía) | Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Ministry of Agriculture |||||||||
| Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura) | José Enrique Martínez Genique | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | UCD (Independent) |
| Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura) | Jaime Lamo de Espinosa | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Ministry of Trade and Tourism |||||||||
| Ministry of Trade and Tourism (Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo) | Juan Antonio García Díez | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; PSD until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of the Presidency |||||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency (Ministerio de la Presidencia) | José Manuel Otero | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Economy |||||||||
| Ministry of Economy (Ministerio de Economía) | Fernando Abril Martorell | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; Indep. until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Transport and Communications |||||||||
| Ministry of Transport and Communications (Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones) | José Lladó | 5 July 1977 | 25 February 1978 | UCD (Independent) |
| Ministry of Transport and Communications (Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones) | Salvador Sánchez-Terán | 25 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |
| Ministry of Health and Social Security |||||||||
| Ministry of Health and Social Security (Ministerio de Sanidad y Seguridad Social) | Enrique Sánchez de León | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; AREX until Dec 1977) |
| Ministry of Culture |||||||||
| Ministry of Culture and Welfare (Ministerio de Cultura y Bienestar) (until 1 September 1977) Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura) (from 1 September 1977) | Pío Cabanillas Gallas | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; PP until Dec 1977) |
| Ministers without portfolio |||||||||
| Deputy Minister for the Regions, without portfolio (Ministro adjunto para las Regiones, sin cartera) | Manuel Clavero | 5 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | UCD (UCD from Dec 1977; PSLA until Dec 1977) |
| Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio (Ministro adjunto para las Relaciones con las Cortes, sin cartera) (until 27 September 1977) | Ignacio Camuñas | 5 July 1977 | 27 September 1977 | UCD (PDP) |
| Minister for Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio (Ministro para las Relaciones con las Comunidades Europeas, sin cartera) (from 11 February 1978) | Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo | 11 February 1978 | 6 April 1979 | UCD |