Tácitos

   A reformist group, initially composed largely of former National Movement officials, which took its name from the alias Tácito, which was used to sign articles advocating political change appearing in the Catholic newspaper Ya from 1972. The group's initial objectives did not go beyond the notion of limited concessions designed to ensure that the basic distribution of power after the end of the Franco regime would remain intact. By 1974, it incorporated some Christian Democrats not identified with the regime, and their inclusion in Adolfo Suárez's first cabinet in 1976 enabled him to give it a more broadly reformist character. Some prominent Tácitos, such as Landelino Lavilla and Marcelino Oreja, became ministers in the first UCD government after 1977.

   See also: history; politics

   EAMONN RODGERS