Third government of Adolfo Suárez

{{Infobox government cabinet

| cabinet_name = 3rd government of Adolfo Suárez

| cabinet_number =

| cabinet_type = Government

| jurisdiction = Spain

| flag = Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg

| flag_border = true

| incumbent = 1979–1981

| image = {{Photomontage

| photo1a = Consejo de Ministros presidido por Adolfo Suárez (1980-05-03).jpg

| photo2a = Tercer Gobierno de Adolfo Suárez (1980-09).jpg

| spacing = 2

| border = 0

| color = #F2F2F2

| size = 225

}}

| image_size =

| caption = The government in May 1980 (top) and September 1980 (bottom).

| date_formed = 6 April 1979

| date_dissolved = 27 February 1981

| government_head = Adolfo Suárez

| government_head_title = Prime Minister

| deputy_government_head = Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado^1st, Fernando Abril Martorell^2nd (1979–1980)
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado^1st, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo^2nd (1980–1981)

| deputy_government_head_title = Deputy Prime Ministers

| state_head = Juan Carlos I

| state_head_title = Monarch

| members_number = 23{{efn|name="PM"|Does not include the Prime Minister.}} (1979–1980)
22{{efn|name="PM"}} (1980–1981)

| total_number = 30{{efn|name="PM"}}

| political_party = {{color test|{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}|size=1}} UCD

| legislature_status = Minority government

| opposition_party = {{color test|{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}|size=1}} PSOE

| opposition_leader = Felipe González

| election = 1979 general election

| last_election =

| legislature_term = 1st Cortes Generales

| budget = 1979, 1980, 1981

| incoming_formation =

| outgoing_formation =

| previous = Suárez II

| successor = Calvo-Sotelo

}}

The third government of Adolfo Suárez was formed on 6 April 1979, following the latter's election as Prime Minister of Spain by the Congress of Deputies on 30 March and his swearing-in on 2 April, as a result of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) emerging as the largest parliamentary force at the 1979 Spanish general election.{{cite news|date=31 March 1979|title=Suárez obtuvo la investidura y la Oposición|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/03/31/portada/291682805_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=3 April 1979|title=Suárez juró "guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución"|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/03/espana/291938401_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}} It succeeded the second Suárez government and was the Government of Spain from 6 April 1979 to 27 February 1981, a total of {{age in days|6 Apr 1979|27 Feb 1981}} days, or {{age in years, months and days|1979|4|6|1981|2|27}}.{{cite news|date=30 January 1981|title=Los Gobiernos de Suárez|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/30/espana/349657207_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}

Suárez's third cabinet was the first to be appointed under the Spanish Constitution of 1978,{{cite news|date=6 April 1979|title=El primer Gobierno constitutional: Todos de UCD, menos dos militares|url=http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1979/04/06/pagina-16/33424947/pdf.html|language=es|newspaper=La Vanguardia|access-date=23 August 2020}} and was an all-UCD government plus two military officers (Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado and Antonio Ibáñez Freire);{{cite news|date=6 April 1979|title=Pío Cabanillas, Martín Villa y Fernández Ordóñez, excluidos|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/06/espana/292197618_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=7 April 1979|title=La composición del nuevo Gobierno refuerza el poder personal de Suárez y Fernando Abril|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/07/espana/292284010_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}} subsequent reshuffles in 1980 seeing would see the incorporation of a number of independents. It was automatically dismissed on 29 January 1981 as a consequence of Adolfo Suárez's resignation as Prime Minister, but remained in acting capacity until the next government was sworn in.{{cite news|date=30 January 1981|title=Suárez: "No quiero que el sistema democrático sea un paréntesis en la historia de España"|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/30/espana/349657205_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=28 April 2018}}{{cite news|date=30 January 1981|title=Fuertes presiones influyeron en la decisión del presidente Suárez de presentar su dimisión irrevocable|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/30/espana/349657204_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=49|date=26 February 1981|language=es|title=Real Decreto 249/1981, de 25 de febrero, por el que se formaliza el fin de las funciones como Presidente del Gobierno de don Adolfo Suárez González González|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1981/02/26/pdfs/A04329-04329.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=4329}}{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=50|date=27 February 1981|language=es|title=Real Decreto 259/1981, de 26 de febrero, por el que se dispone el cese en sus funciones de los miembros del Gobierno|url=https://boe.es/boe/dias/1981/02/27/pdfs/A04430-04431.pdf|issn=0212-033X|pages=4430–4431}}

Investiture

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"\| Investiture Adolfo Suárez (UCD)
colspan="2" width="150px"\| Ballot → ! 30 March 1979
colspan="2"\| Required majority → \| 176 out of 350 {{tick\|15}}
width="1px" style="background:green;"\| \| align="left"\| {{Collapsible list \| title = Yes \| • UCD (168) \| • CD (8) \| • PSA–PA (5) \| • PAR (1) \| • UPN (1) }} \| {{Composition bar\|183\|350\|green\|width=125px}}
style="background:red;"\| \| align="left"\| {{Collapsible list \| title = No \| • PSOE (94) \| • PCE–PSUC (23) \| • PSC (16) \| • PNV (6) \| • PSE (6) \| • UN (1) \| • ERC (1) \| • EE (1) \| • UPC (1) }} \| {{Composition bar\|149\|350\|red\|width=125px}}
style="background:gray;"\| \| align="left"\| {{Collapsible list \| title = Abstentions \| • CiU (8) }} \| {{Composition bar\|8\|350\|gray\|width=125px}}
style="background:black;"\| \| align="left"\| {{Collapsible list \| title = Absentees \| • PSOE (4) \| • HB (3) \| • PSC (1) \| • CD (1) \| • PNV (1) }} \| {{Composition bar\|10\|350\|black\|width=125px}}
align="left" colspan="3"\| Sources{{cite web\|url=http://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html\|title=Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes\|language=es\|website=Historia Electoral.com\|access-date=22 November 2019}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| Investiture
Adolfo Suárez (UCD)

colspan="2" width="150px"| Ballot →

! 30 March 1979

colspan="2"| Required majority →

| 176 out of 350 {{tick|15}}

width="1px" style="background:green;"|

| align="left"| {{Collapsible list | title = Yes

| • UCD (168)

| • CD (8)

| • PSA–PA (5)

| • PAR (1)

| • UPN (1)

}}

| {{Composition bar|183|350|green|width=125px}}

style="background:red;"|

| align="left"| {{Collapsible list | title = No

| • PSOE (94)

| • PCE–PSUC (23)

| • PSC (16)

| • PNV (6)

| • PSE (6)

| • UN (1)

| • ERC (1)

| • EE (1)

| • UPC (1)

}}

| {{Composition bar|149|350|red|width=125px}}

style="background:gray;"|

| align="left"| {{Collapsible list | title = Abstentions

| • CiU (8)

}}

| {{Composition bar|8|350|gray|width=125px}}

style="background:black;"|

| align="left"| {{Collapsible list | title = Absentees

| • PSOE (4)

| • HB (3)

| • PSC (1)

| • CD (1)

| • PNV (1)

}}

| {{Composition bar|10|350|black|width=125px}}

align="left" colspan="3"| Sources{{cite web|url=http://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html|title=Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes|language=es|website=Historia Electoral.com|access-date=22 November 2019}}

Cabinet changes

Suárez's third government saw a number of cabinet changes during its tenure:

On 17 January 1980, Manuel Clavero resigned as Minister of Culture over political differences with the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) on the issue of the Andalusian autonomy and his party's stance on the 28 February 1980 autonomy initiative referendum.{{cite news|date=16 January 1980|title=La autonomía andaluza enfrenta a Clavero con el resto del partido centrista|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/16/espana/316825203_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=17 January 1980|title=Manuel Clavero, ministro de las autonomías|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/17/espana/316911608_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=15|date=17 January 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 64/1980, de 16 de enero, por el que se dispone el cese del Ministro de Cultura don Manuel Clavero Arévalo|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/01/17/pdfs/A01224-01224.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=1224}} He was replaced in the post by Ricardo de la Cierva, who was sworn into office on the following day.{{cite news|date=18 January 1980|title=No habrá más cambios en el gobierno|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/18/portada/316998003_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}} Suárez took the opportunity of Clavero's resignation to make another cabinet change, by transferring some of the powers from Rafael Arias-Salgado's department to José Pedro Pérez-Llorca's Ministry of the Presidency.{{cite news|last=De la Cuadra|first=Bonifacio|date=18 January 1980|title=La remodelación refuerza el control directo de Adolfo Suárez sobre su Gabinete|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/18/espana/316998001_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=16|date=18 January 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 66/1980, de 17 de enero, por el que se dispone el cese de don Rafael Arias-Salgado y Montalvo como Ministro Adjunto para las Relaciones con las Cortes, sin Cartera|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/01/18/pdfs/A01343-01343.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=1343}}
On 3 May 1980, what had initially been planned as a minor cabinet readjustment intended to create a third deputy prime minister office for regional affairs under José Pedro Pérez-Llorca turned into a major reshuffle as a result of power struggles within the UCD: Antonio Ibáñez Freire (Interior), Carlos Bustelo (Industry and Energy) and Juan Antonio García Díez (Trade and Tourism) were replaced by Juan José Rosón, Ignacio Bayón and Luis Gámir, respectively. Pérez-Llorca's new appointment was limited to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, replacing Antonio Fontán, whereas Pérez-Llorca's former presidency department was reassigned to Rafael Arias-Salgado and its competences split into two additional deputy ministries headed by Sebastián Martín-Retortillo (Responsible for Public Administration) and Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona (Responsible for Legislative Coordination). Salvador Sánchez-Terán was moved from Transport and Communications—which was assigned to José Luis Álvarez—to Labour (replacing Rafael Calvo Ortega) and the post of deputy minister held by Joaquín Garrigues Walker was abolished.{{cite news|date=3 May 1980|title=El enfrentamiento de Pérez-Llorca y Arias-Salgado desgaja Presidencia entre tres ministros|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/05/03/espana/326152813_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=4 May 1980|title=Ni Suárez ni la "oposición" de UCD lograron sus objetivos sobre el cambio de Gobierno|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/05/04/espana/326239203_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}
The last cabinet reshuffle under Adolfo Suárez took place on 9 September 1980, on the eve of a motion of confidence called by Suárez upon his own government scheduled for 18 September, aimed at strengthening his stand within the UCD by having the most prominent figures from the party's ideological factions represented in the government. Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo replaced Fernando Abril Martorell as Second Deputy Prime Minister, Marcelino Oreja stepped down in favour of José Pedro Pérez-Llorca as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Íñigo Cavero was moved from Justice—assigned to Francisco Fernández Ordóñez—to Culture. Further changes were seen in Education (from José Manuel Otero to Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona), Labour (Sánchez-Terán was replaced by Félix Manuel Pérez Miyares) and Calvo-Sotelo's vacant ministry, Relations with the European Communities (to Eduard Punset). The reshuffle also saw the recovery of some members from former cabinets, such as Alberto Oliart (in Health and Social Security), Juan Antonio García Díez (in Economy and Trade), Rodolfo Martín Villa (in Territorial Administration) and Pío Cabanillas Gallas (as deputy minister to the Prime Minister). Meanwhile, the deputy ministry for Legislative Coordination was abolished.{{cite news|date=5 September 1980|title=El martes habrá nuevo Gobierno, según fuentes próximas a Suárez|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/05/portada/336952803_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=9 September 1980|title=Suárez ha utilizado 58 ministros diferentes|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/09/espana/337298401_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{cite news|date=9 September 1980|title=Todas las tendencias de UCD, representadas en el quinto Gobierno de Suárez|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/09/portada/337298402_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}}

Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers was structured into the offices for the prime minister, the two deputy prime ministers and 21 ministries, including a number of deputy ministers without portfolio.{{cite web|website=lamoncloa.gob.es|language=es|title=Gobiernos por legislaturas. I Legislatura|url=http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/gobierno/gobiernosporlegislaturas/Paginas/I%20Legislatura.aspx|access-date=22 November 2019}} This number would be maintained in the May 1980 reshuffle with some changes within the deputy ministries,{{cite news|date=3 May 1980|title=Lista del nuevo Gabinete|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/05/03/espana/326152814_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=5 January 2020}} one of which would be abolished in the September 1980 reshuffle.{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=248|date=15 October 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 2183/1980, de 10 de octubre, sobre supresión y reestructuración de órganos de la Administración Central del Estado|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/10/15/pdfs/A22936-22938.pdf|issn=0212-033X|pages=22936–22938}}

{| class="wikitable"

| colspan="7" bgcolor="#F2F2F2" align="center"| ← Suárez III Government →
(6 April 1979 – 27 February 1981)

! Portfolio

! Name

! width="100px" colspan="2"| Party

! width="135px"| Took office

! width="135px"| Left office

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Prime Minister

| Adolfo Suárez

| width="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 2 April 1979

| 26 February 1981

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=79|date=2 April 1979|language=es|title=Real Decreto 681/1979, de 31 de marzo, por el que se nombra Presidente del Gobierno a don Adolfo Suárez González|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1979/04/02/pdfs/A07838-07838.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=7838}}

| colspan="7"|

| First Deputy Prime Minister,
in charge of the Coordination of the National Security and Defence Affairs

| Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado

| style="background-color:{{party color|Military}};"|

| Military

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=83|date=6 April 1979|language=es|title=Real Decreto 709/1979, de 5 de abril, por el que se nombra Vicepresidente del Gobierno a don Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1979/04/06/pdfs/A08192-08192.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=8191}}

| Second Deputy Prime Minister,
in charge of the Coordination of Economic Affairs

| Fernando Abril Martorell

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=83|date=6 April 1979|language=es|title=Real Decreto 710/1979, de 5 de abril, por el que se nombra Vicepresidente del Gobierno a don Fernando Abril Martorell|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1979/04/06/pdfs/A08192-08192.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=8192}}

| Minister of Foreign Affairs

| Marcelino Oreja

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=83|date=6 April 1979|language=es|title=Real Decreto 711/1979, de 5 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1979/04/06/pdfs/A08192-08192.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=8192}}

| Minister of Justice

| Íñigo Cavero

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Defence

| Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Finance

| Jaime García Añoveros

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of the Interior

| Antonio Ibáñez Freire

| style="background-color:{{party color|Military}};"|

| Military

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Public Works and Urbanism

| Jesús Sancho Rof

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Education

| José Manuel Otero

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Labour

| Rafael Calvo Ortega

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Industry and Energy

| Carlos Bustelo

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Agriculture

| Jaime Lamo de Espinosa

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Trade and Tourism

| Juan Antonio García Díez

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of the Presidency

| José Pedro Pérez-Llorca

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Economy

| José Luis Leal

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Transport and Communications

| Salvador Sánchez-Terán

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Health and Social Security

| Juan Rovira Tarazona

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Culture

| Manuel Clavero

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 17 January 1980

| align="center"|

| Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio

| Joaquín Garrigues Walker

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister for Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio

| Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Deputy Minister for Relations with the Cortes, without portfolio

| Rafael Arias-Salgado

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 18 January 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Territorial Administration

| Antonio Fontán

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Universities and Research

| Luis González Seara

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 6 April 1979

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| colspan="7"|

=Changes January 1980=

! Portfolio

! Name

! colspan="2"| Party

! Took office

! Left office

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Minister of Culture

| Ricardo de la Cierva

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 18 January 1980

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=16|date=18 January 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 67/1980, de 17 de enero, por el que se nombra Ministro de Cultura a don Ricardo de la Cierva y Hoces|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/01/18/pdfs/A01343-01343.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=1343}}

| Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio

| Rafael Arias-Salgado

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 18 January 1980

| 3 May 1980

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=16|date=18 January 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 68/1980, de 17 de enero, por el que se nombra Ministro Adjunto al Presidente, sin Cartera, a don Rafael Arias-Salgado y Montalvo|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/01/18/pdfs/A01343-01343.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=1343}}

| colspan="7"|

=Changes May 1980=

! Portfolio

! Name

! colspan="2"| Party

! Took office

! Left office

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Minister of the Interior

| Juan José Rosón

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=107|date=3 May 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 792/1980, de 2 de mayo, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/05/03/pdfs/A09564-09564.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=9564}}

| Minister of Labour

| Salvador Sánchez-Terán

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Industry and Energy

| Ignacio Bayón

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD {{small|(Ind.)}}

| 3 May 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Trade and Tourism

| Luis Gámir

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of the Presidency

| Rafael Arias-Salgado

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Transport and Communications

| José Luis Álvarez

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| {{strike|Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio}}

| colspan="6"| {{resize|Discontinued on 3 May 1980 upon the officeholder's dismissal.{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=107|date=3 May 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 791/1980, de 2 de mayo, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/05/03/pdfs/A09564-09564.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=9564}}}}

| Minister of Territorial Administration

| José Pedro Pérez-Llorca

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| {{strike|Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio}}

| colspan="6"| {{resize|Discontinued on 3 May 1980 upon the officeholder's dismissal.}}

| Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio,
in charge of Public Administration

| Sebastián Martín-Retortillo

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio,
in charge of Legislative Coordination

| Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 3 May 1980

| 9 September 1980

| align="center"|

| colspan="7"|

=Changes September 1980=

! Portfolio

! Name

! colspan="2"| Party

! Took office

! Left office

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Second Deputy Prime Minister,
in charge of the Coordination of Economic Affairs

| Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=217|date=9 September 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 1796/1980, de 8 de septiembre por el que se nombra Vicepresidente del Gobierno a don Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/09/09/pdfs/A20294-20294.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=20294}}

| Minister of Foreign Affairs

| José Pedro Pérez-Llorca

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"| {{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=217|date=9 September 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 1797/1980, de 8 de septiembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/09/09/pdfs/A20294-20294.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=20294}}

| Minister of Justice

| Francisco Fernández Ordóñez

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Education

| Juan Antonio Ortega y Díaz-Ambrona

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Labour

| Félix Manuel Pérez Miyares

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Economy
Minister of Trade

| Juan Antonio García Díez

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 7 October 1980

| align="center"|

| Minister of Health and Social Security

| Alberto Oliart

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD {{small|(Ind.){{efn|Joined the UCD in December 1980.{{cite news|date=11 November 2009|title=Alberto Oliart, nuevo presidente de RTVE|url=https://elpais.com/sociedad/2009/11/11/actualidad/1257894001_850215.html|language=es|newspaper=El País|access-date=24 November 2019}}}}}}

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Territorial Administration

| Rodolfo Martín Villa

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister of Culture

| Íñigo Cavero

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio

| Pío Cabanillas Gallas

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| Minister for Relations with the European Communities, without portfolio

| Eduard Punset

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 9 September 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| {{strike|Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, without portfolio,
in charge of Legislative Coordination}}

| colspan="6"| {{resize|Discontinued on 9 September 1980 upon the officeholder's dismissal.{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=217|date=9 September 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 1795/1980, de 8 de septiembre, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/09/09/pdfs/A20294-20294.pdf|issn=0212-033X|page=20294}}}}

| colspan="7"|

=Changes October 1980=

! Portfolio

! Name

! colspan="2"| Party

! Took office

! Left office

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| Minister of Economy and Trade{{efn|name="Oct80"|On 7 October 1980, the ministries of Economy and the Trade were restructured and merged into the newly-established Ministry of Economy and Trade.{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=241|date=7 October 1980|language=es|title=Real Decreto 1996/1980, de 3 de octubre, por el que se estructura el Ministerio de Economía y Comercio|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/10/07/pdfs/A22274-22275.pdf|issn=0212-033X|pages=22274–22275}}}}

| Juan Antonio García Díez

| style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| UCD

| 7 October 1980

| 27 February 1981

| align="center"|

| {{strike|Minister of Trade}}{{efn|name="Oct80"}}

| colspan="6"| {{resize|Disestablished on 7 October 1980.}}

Departmental structure

Adolfo Suárez's third government was organised into several superior and governing units, whose number, powers and hierarchical structure varied depending on the ministerial department.{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=195|date=31 July 1957|language=es|title=Decreto de 26 julio de 1957 por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Régimen jurídico de la Administración del Estado|url=https://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE//1957/195/A00646-00651.pdf|issn=0212-033X|pages=646–651}}{{cite journal|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado|issue=159|date=5 July 1977|language=es|title=Real Decreto 1558/1977, de 4 de julio, por el que se reestructuran determinados Organos de la Administración Central del Estado|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1977/07/05/pdfs/A15035-15037.pdf|issn=0212-033X|pages=15035–15037}}

;Unit/body rank

({{colorbull|#22B14C}}) Secretary of state
({{colorbull|#00A2E8}}) Undersecretary
({{colorbull|#FF8080}}) Director-general
({{colorbull|#91B9B9|c}}) Autonomous agency
({{colorbull|#C70243|d}}) Military & intelligence agency

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:18px;"

! scope="col"| Office
{{smaller|(Original name)}}

! scope="col"| Portrait

! scope="col"| Name

! scope="col"| Took office

! scope="col"| Left office

! colspan="3" scope="col"| Alliance/party

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

! colspan="9"|

=[[Palace of Moncloa#Prime Minister's Office|Prime Minister's Office]]=

| align="center" rowspan="2" width="250"| Prime Minister
{{smaller|(Presidencia del Gobierno)}}

| width="80"| 80px

| width="200"| Adolfo Suárez

| width="200"| 2 April 1979

| width="200"| 26 February 1981
{{smaller|(resigned)}}

| width="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}};"|

| width="175" align="center"| UCD

| align="center" rowspan="2"|

| colspan="7"|

| align="center" rowspan="2"| First Deputy Prime Minister,
in charge of the Coordination of the
Security and National Defence
Affairs
{{smaller|(Vicepresidencia Primera
del Gobierno, encargada de la
coordinación de los asuntos de
la Seguridad y Defensa Nacional)}}

Third government of Adolfo Suárez

Investiture

Cabinet changes

Council of Ministers

=Changes January 1980=

=Changes May 1980=

=Changes September 1980=

=Changes October 1980=

Departmental structure

=[[Palace of Moncloa#Prime Minister's Office|Prime Minister's Office]]=

=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]=

=[[Ministry of Justice (Spain)|Ministry of Justice]]=

=[[Ministry of Defence (Spain)|Ministry of Defence]]=

=[[Ministry of Finance (Spain)|Ministry of Finance]]=

=[[Ministry of the Interior (Spain)|Ministry of the Interior]]=

=[[Ministry of Public Works and Urbanism]]=

=[[Ministry of Education (Spain)|Ministry of Education]]=

=[[Ministry of Labour (Spain)|Ministry of Labour]]=

=[[Ministry of Industry (Spain)|Ministry of Industry and Energy]]=

=[[Ministry of Agriculture (Spain)|Ministry of Agriculture]]=

=[[Ministry of Trade (Spain)|Ministry of Trade and Tourism]]=

=[[Ministry of the Presidency]]=

=[[Ministry of Economy (Spain)|Ministry of Economy]]=

=[[Ministry of Transport (Spain)|Ministry of Transport and Communications]]=

=[[Ministry of Health (Spain)|Ministry of Health and Social Security]]=

=[[Ministry of Culture (Spain)|Ministry of Culture]]=

=[[Ministry for Territorial Administrations|Ministry of Territorial Administration]]=

=[[Ministry of Science (Spain)|Ministry of Universities and Research]]=

=[[Ministers without portfolio]]=

Notes

References

External links