VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SPAIN (1973-1992)
UNKNOWN LOCATION, SPAIN (OCTOBER 1982) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
1. GONZALEZ AT ELECTION RALLY MADRID (OCTOBER 1982) (AVAILABLE ALL)
2. GONZALEZ AND WIFE WALKING FORWARD TO VOTE MADRID (OCTOBER 1982) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
3. SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING ELECTION VICTORY MADRID (DECEMBER 1, 1982) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
4. GONZALEZ ADDRESSING PARLIAMENT MADRID (1973) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
5. GENERAL FRANCO MADRID (1975) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
6. PEOPLE MOURNING FRANCO'S DEATH/FRANCO LYING IN STATE MADRID (FEBRUARY 23, 1982) (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
7. SOLDIERS ENTERING PARLIAMENT FIRING GUNS AS DEPUTIES TAKE COVER, IN PART OF AN UNSUCCESSFUL COUP ATTEMPT BY COLONEL ANTONIO TEJERO VARIOUS LOCATIONS 1981 (NO ACCESS SPAIN)
8. ANTI-NATO DEMONSTRATORS AT RALLIES/DEMONSTRATORS SIGNING PETITIONS AND MARCHING
9. AERIAL VIEWS OF GIBRALATAR/BRITISH NAVAL SHIPS IN HARBOUR MADRID MAY 24, 1983 (NO ACCESS SPAIN) 10 ANTI-ABORTION RALLY/MOTHER TERESA MADRID (NOVEMEBER 2 1982) (NO ACCESS SPAIN) 11 POPE MEETING GONZALEZ LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 12, 1985) (NO ACCESS PORTUGAL) 12 GONZALEZ SIGNS TREATY OF ACCESSION INTO EUROPEAN COMMUNITY MADRID (APRIL 25, 1986) (NO ACCESS SPAIN) 13 ETA BOMBING IN WHICH FIVE PARAMILITARY GUARDS WERE KILLED MADRID (OCTOBER 29, 1989) (AVAILABLE ALL) 14 GONZALEZ ADDRESSING PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS NARROWLY WIN ELECTION (SPANISH) MADRID (OCTOBER 30 1991) (AVAILABLE ALL) 15 DELEGATES ARRIVING FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE/GONZALES ADDRESSING DELEGATES (SPANISH)/DELEGATES APPLAUD SEVILLE (APRIL 20, 1992) (NO ACCESS SPAIN) 16 EXPO '92 EXTERIOR/GONZALEZ WALKING WITH KING JUAN CARLOS AND FAMILY THROUGH EXPO/VIEWS OF EXPO/BALLOONS AND FIREWORKS



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Background: Spain's Prime Minister, Felipe Gonzalez, today (October 28) celebrates ten years in office, after transforming Spain from a fragile democracy to a modern Western nation.

Gonzalez led the Socialist Party to electoral victory in 1982, at a time when the country was facing severe economic hardship. He promised Congress firm rule and austerity to help the country's financial problems, but he also had many other important social and political issues to deal with.

Spain was still coming to terms with democracy after decades of dictatorship under General Franco. Just a year before Gonzalez won the 1982 election, a military officer, Colonel Antonio Tejero failed in an attempted coup.

Spain's membership of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was a major issue in Spain in the 1980s. After initially campaigning against Spain's involvement in NATO, Gonzalez later reversed his position and a referendum backed continuing membership of the alliance.

Despite Spain's closer military links with other European nations, the issue of sovereignty over Gibraltar remains contentious. Under the premiership of Gonzalez, relations between Britain and Spain have improved, but the future status of the colony is still unresolved.

At home, Gonzalez has also clashed with the influential Catholic Church. Despite opposition from the Church and Nobel peace prize winner Mother Teresa, Spain has liberalised its abortion laws, and is attempting to reduce the Church's control over education.

Gonzalez completed Spain's integration into Europe in 1986, when the country joined the European Community. The landmark event was marred however by an increase in violence by the Basque separatist group ETA, whose campaign against rule from Madrid continues to claim the lives of civilians and soldiers.

The Socialists' hold on power in Spain is shaky, with Gonzalez' party winning the 1989 election by just one seat. But, Gonzalez has continued to have a high profile, especially in the past two years, with Spain hosting a round of the Middle East Peace Conference, the Barcelona Olympics, and the Seville Expo.