Spanish Social Democratic Union (; USDE) was a

social-liberal Social liberalism is a political philosophy and variety of liberalism that endorses social justice, social services, a mixed economy, and the expansion of civil and political rights, as opposed to classical liberalism which favors limited ...

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

that opposed the

Francoist State Francoist Spain (), also known as the Francoist dictatorship (), or Nationalist Spain () was the period of History of Spain, Spanish history between 1936 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . ...

and advocated a

liberal democracy Liberal democracy, also called Western-style democracy, or substantive democracy, is a form of government that combines the organization of a democracy with ideas of liberalism, liberal political philosophy. Common elements within a liberal dem ...

. The USDE was founded in 1974 by

Dionisio Ridruejo Dionisio Ridruejo Jiménez (12 October 1912 – 29 June 1975) was a Spanish poet and political figure associated with the Generation of '36 movement and a member of the Falange political party. He was co-author of the words to the Falangist anth ...

History

It was the successor of the Social Party of Democratic Action founded in 1957. The USDE had social-Catholic and

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

internal currents. In 1975 the USDE joined the

Democratic Convergence Platform The Democratic Convergence Platform (, PCD) was a Spanish organization that coordinated various pro-democracy parties, unions and associations (all illegal) towards the end of Francoist Spain. History Origins In its founding manifesto the PCD cal ...

. Fernando Chueca Goitia, one of the founders of USDE, left the party in July 1976 to join the People's Democratic Party, where he was elected president in December of that year.

References

{{Reflist 1974 establishments in Spain 1979 disestablishments in Spain Anti-Francoism Liberal parties in Spain Political parties disestablished in 1979 Political parties established in 1974