The Democratic Convergence Platform ( es, Plataforma de Convergencia Democrática, PCD) was a Spanish organization that coordinated various pro-democracy parties, unions and associations (all illegal) towards the end of

Francoist Spain Francoist Spain ( es, España franquista), or the Francoist dictatorship (), was the period of Spanish history between 1939 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . After his death in 1975, Spai ...

History

Origins

In its founding manifesto the PCD called for the establishment of democracy in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and the opening of a constitutional process, pledging to promote a

multiparty democracy In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coal ...

, with a federal state structure, the freedom of the

political prisoners A political prisoner is someone imprisoned for their political activity. The political offense is not always the official reason for the prisoner's detention. There is no internationally recognized legal definition of the concept, although nu ...

, the return of exiles,

freedom of association Freedom of association encompasses both an individual's right to join or leave groups voluntarily, the right of the group to take collective action to pursue the interests of its members, and the right of an association to accept or decline membe ...

right to strike Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became common during the I ...

, freedom of expression, association, assembly, demonstration, the abolition of all special courts and all those agencies and repressive organizations of the Francoist State, free elections, and the right to

self-determination The right of a people to self-determination is a cardinal principle in modern international law (commonly regarded as a ''jus cogens'' rule), binding, as such, on the United Nations as authoritative interpretation of the Charter's norms. It stat ...

and

self-government __NOTOC__ Self-governance, self-government, or self-rule is the ability of a person or group to exercise all necessary functions of regulation without intervention from an external authority. It may refer to personal conduct or to any form of ...

for the nationalities and regions of

. The organizations signing the manifesto were the

Spanish Socialist Workers Party The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party ( es, Partido Socialista Obrero Español ; PSOE ) is a social-democraticThe PSOE is described as a social-democratic party by numerous sources: * * * * political party in Spain. The PSOE has been in gov ...

(PSOE), the Communist Movement of Spain (MCE), Democratic Left, the Revolutionary Organization of Workers (ORT), Socialist Party of Catalonia–Regrouping, the Basque Advisory Council, the

Democratic Union of the Valencian Country Democratic Union of the Valencian Country (in Catalan: ''Unió Democràtica del País Valencià'', UDPV) was a political party in the Valencian Country, Spain. It was founded clandestinely in the University of Valencia in 1962. The party was illeg ...

, the

Spanish Social Democratic Union Spanish Social Democratic Union ( es, Unión Social Demócrata Española; USDE) was a social-liberal political party in Spain that opposed the Francoist State and wanted a liberal democracy in Spain. The USDE was founded in 1974 by Dionisio Ridrue ...

, the

Carlist Party The Carlist Party ( es, Partido Carlista, ca, Partit Carlí, eu, Karlista Alderdia, gl, Partido Carlista, ast, Partíu Carlista; PC) is a Spanish political party that considers itself as a successor to the historical tradition of Carlism. ...

, the Galician Social Democratic Party and the

General Union of Workers A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED On ...

(UGT) and independent Social Democrats, liberals and christian-democrats. The PCD was dominated by the

PSOE The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party ( es, Partido Socialista Obrero Español ; PSOE ) is a social-democraticThe PSOE is described as a social-democratic party by numerous sources: * * * * political party in Spain. The PSOE has been in gov ...

''Platajunta''

In 1976 the PCD formed a common front with the

Democratic Junta of Spain The Democratic Junta of Spain ( es, Junta Democrática de España, JDE) was a Spanish organization that coordinated various pro-democracy parties, unions and associations (all illegal) during the late Francoist State. History Origins The Democ ...

, finally merging the two platforms in 1976. The merge was called Democratic Convergence, also known as the "Platajunta".Reunión de la Plataforma de Organismos Democráticos.
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References

* Ortuño Anaya, Pilar, ''Los socialistas europeos y la transición española (1959-1977)'', Madrid, Marcial Pons, 2005, {{ISBN, 8495379880 Defunct political parties in Spain Anti-fascist organisations in Spain Political parties established in 1974 Political parties disestablished in 1976 Anti-Francoism Spanish transition to democracy