Suarez casts around

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 9

Suarez casts around

NZPA-Reuter Madrid The new Spanish Prime Minister (Mr Adolfo Suarez), in difficulties trying to form a Government, has begun to put out feelers among the Opposition. The difficulties arose with' the refusal of four prominent; liberals to serve under thej 43-year-old Prime Minister? appointed by King Juan Car-1 los last week-end. They include the Foreign! Minister (Mr Jose Maria de! Areilza) and the Interior! Minister (Mr Manuel Fraga) who objected to his inexperience, his Right-wing background, and his links with the Roman Catholic lay organisation. Opus Dei. The Prime Minister has' sought to allay concern over a return to power under hisi

stewardship of Opus Dei technocrats, who held key Ministries under General Franco in the 19605. “It is not true that it is an assault on power by the technocrats,” he told the Spanish news agency, Logos, in an interview reported nationwide iby the State television network. | Mr Suarez also said that he wanted to form a Governiment based on a broad crossIsection of the Spanish politi!cal scene. Hence the feelers put out among the opposition after Mr Areilza and Mr Fraga had rebelled against the King’s choice of Prime Minister.

At least one party, a Social Democratic group led by the • economist, Mr Antonio Garicia Lopez, seems willing to ico-operate with Mr Suarez

in solving the political crisis begun by the resignation last Week of the Prime Minister. Mr Carlos Arias Navarro. Mr Garcja Lopez told NZPA-Reuter that he had talked to Mr Suarez and was prepared to act as an intermediary with other Opposition parties. Of the refusal of Mr Areilza find Mr Fraga to serve in the new Government, he said: “Nobody is indispens-; able. The country is too important to let personal or party interests prevail.” Mr Suarez later promised to accelerate the pace of political reform, and invited the Opposition to join in efforts to achieve a modern democracy.

He was speaking to the nation on radio and television.