SPAIN: MASSIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN MARKS FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

Record ID: 347309

  • Title: SPAIN: MASSIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN MARKS FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.
  • Date: 2nd December 1976
  • Summary: 1. GV and SVs: signs advertising referendum on buses. (2 shots) 0.19 2. SVs and SCUs: posters about referendum on walls and telephone booths. (7 shots) 0.38 3. GV AND CU: graffiti on poster (4 shots) 0.50 4. CU: television with ads for referendum being broadcast. 1.01 5. SVs: ballot boxes being cleaned and stacked. (3 shots) 1.31
  • Embargoed: 17th December 1976 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA2GSVGJVCNWQSYT6FVYZA8BE5I
  • Story Text: A massive public information campaign reaches its climax on Wednesday (15 December) when up to 22 million voters will go to the polls to cast their vote in a referendum on changes to the Spanish constitution.

    SYNOPSIS: The campaign even includes posters on the sides of Madrid buses. The government is trying to ensure that as many people as possible vote on the question of the political reform bill. The bill calls for the setting up of a two chamber Cortes or Parliament based on the principal of popular sovereignty through direct voting.

    It's part of the political reform promised by Spain's King Juan Carlos at his coronation. But the referendum is already being threatened with a boycott. Opposition parties are insisting that the government agree to a six point demand list -- which includes the recognition of all political parties including the communists and "true political amnesty" -- before they'll take part.

    The political negotiations go on and so does the advertising. Poster with the catchline "your vote is your voice" have been put up throughout the capital. Some have already been defaced with slogans like "do not vote" and don't support the fascist referendum." But the government insists it is getting its message across. A television referendum campaign on Spanish has reached saturation level.

    And, of course, actual preparations are continuing. Even down to cleaning the ballot boxes. King Juan Carlos says the referendum will go ahead regardless. Then the 22 million Spaniards aged 21 and over will be entitled to go to the polls in what the King describes as the first step in the gradual democratisation process.
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