The Centre for Research in Reasoning, Argumentation & Rhetoric along with the PhD in Argumentation Studies at the University of Windsor invite you to a talk by
Dr. Antonio Rossini, CRRAR Fellow
Torcuato Fernández-Miranda and the Spanish Transition: The Art of Herestetics
Abstract: This presentation examines the pivotal role of Torcuato Fernández-Miranda in Spain’s democratic transition following the death of Francisco Franco in 1975. As both President of the Cortes and of the Council of the Realm, Fernández-Miranda held what he described as the “double key” to the regime’s legal and institutional framework. Rejecting rupture, he devised the doctrine of “from law to law,” whereby Francoist legality was used as the instrument of its own dissolution. Through calculated procedural maneuvers—most notably the engineered appointment of Adolfo Suárez as Prime Minister, the drafting and passage of the 1976 Law for Political Reform, and the orchestration of the Cortes’ self-dissolution—Fernández-Miranda ensured that Spain’s transition was perceived as both legally continuous and democratically legitimate. His innovations, such as the introduction of urgent parliamentary procedures and strategic committee assignments, neutralised hardline resistance while allowing reformist forces to prevail. By sequencing legitimacy through Cortes approval, referendum endorsement, free elections, and ultimately the 1978 Constitution, Fernández-Miranda provided the constitutional architecture for Spain’s peaceful shift to democracy. The presentation highlights his technical acumen, political discretion, and lasting legacy as the discreet architect of Spain’s democratic transformation.
October 3, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Chrysler Hall North, 1163
All Welcome