Imprimir PDFLuis Carrero Blanco (1922–1973) was a Spanish admiral and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Spain from June 1973 until his assassination in December 1973. He played a significant role in the Francoist regime under General Francisco Franco.
Carrero Blanco’s premiership was marked by his loyalty to Franco’s authoritarian regime. However, his time in office was short-lived. On December 20, 1973, the Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) carried out a successful and audacious assassination attempt on him. They planted a bomb underneath the road on which Blanco’s car was supposed to pass, causing a massive explosion that resulted in his death. The attack was a significant blow to the Francoist government and marked a turning point in Spain’s political landscape.
Following Carrero Blanco’s assassination, Carlos Arias Navarro succeeded him as the Prime Minister of Spain. The incident is often considered a pivotal moment in the transition to democracy in Spain, as it weakened the Francoist regime and contributed to the eventual establishment of a democratic government after Franco’s death in 1975.