Costa Blanca bids Adolfo Suarez farewell

Flags flew at half-mast for three days this week as Spain mourned the death of Adolfo Suarez.

On the Costa Blanca mayors, councillors, police and members of the public observed a minute’s silence outside town halls in memory of Spain’s first freely-elected president after almost four decades of dictatorship.

Together with King Juan Carlos, Adolfo Saurez pulled off the daunting task of steering Spain to democracy in a climate of consensus and relative harmony.

He was president of the Spanish government from 1976 until 1981, when his resignation triggered the failed military coup of February 23.

Earlier this week Agustin Navarro, mayor of Benidorm, deputy mayor Gema Amor and the Partido Popular spokesman Antonio Perez laid flowers in Calle Presidente Adolfo Suarez.

He died at the age of 81 and had suffered from Alzheimer’s for the last 11 years of his life.