Spain Celebrates 1978 Constitution's Historic Milestone Amid Political Party Absences
Spain commemorates the 1978 Constitution reaching the longest duration in its history, during a Congress ceremony marked by notable absences from key political parties.
- • The 1978 Spanish Constitution became the longest-lasting constitution in Spain, surpassing the 1876 Constitution.
- • A ceremony was held in Congress chaired by the King and attended by many political leaders except Junts, ERC, PNV, EH Bildu, and BNG.
- • The Council of Ministers announced plans to raise the minimum wage and introduce anti-corruption measures.
- • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for investigations into tech companies X, Meta, and TikTok over child pornography concerns.
Key details
On February 17, 2026, Spain marked a significant milestone as its 1978 Constitution officially became the longest-lasting constitution in Spanish history, surpassing the previous record set by the 1876 Constitution. The event was commemorated with a ceremony at the Congress of Deputies, presided over by the King and attended by key political figures including the President of the Government and leaders from both parliamentary chambers.
Notably, several influential political parties—Junts, ERC, PNV, EH Bildu, and BNG—were absent from the ceremony, underscoring ongoing political tensions. The absence was highlighted by sources covering the event, which drew attention to the divided political landscape in Spain.
Beyond the anniversary, other political developments were also unfolding. The Council of Ministers was scheduled to approve a raised minimum wage and a package of anti-corruption measures in response to the Santos Cerdán scandal. Moreover, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a call for investigations into major tech companies X, Meta, and TikTok over concerns relating to child pornography disseminated through artificial intelligence, signaling a crackdown on digital platforms.
In additional political news, changes in regional leadership were announced, including Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s replacement of Emilio Viciana with Mercedes Zarzalejo as Madrid's Education Minister amid rising tensions and threats of strikes against controversial education reforms. The Congress is also set to debate proposals to ban the burka and niqab in public spaces, with divergent positions among parties.
The ceremony honoring the Constitution was a moment of national reflection on Spain's democratic endurance but also reflected the continuing complexities in political unity, as demonstrated by the absence of several regional parties from the celebration.
The historic event reaffirms Spain’s constitutional stability, but the political party absences and other ongoing government actions highlight the challenges within Spain’s political system today.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
