The Constitution of 1978 was made by 361 deputies, that is, the 350 who were elected in the first democratic elections on June 15, 1977. Plus another eleven to add: those who replaced as many others elected who died between June 1977 and the end of the first constituent legislature, on January 2, 1979. At 48 years old, today the current Fundamental Law is already the most longest of the twelve we have had. Good news.
For the constituent deputies, the years 1977 and 78 were very intense work in Congress. Because in addition to the base document prepared by the seven constitutional fathers, all the deputies meet many days in the plenary session, the chamber, to debate each and every one of the 169 articles that are part of our maximum norm.
Today, according to the Internet – incredibly, there is no official list –, 36 of the 361 drafting deputies survive, only 11.39 percent of those who were constituents. So, of some parties, such as the Popular Alliance, there are no longer any, and almost the same thing – only one is still alive – in the case of the group made up of the PCE and the PSUC: who subscribes to this article.
We do not have the list of the 36 survivors of the constitutional effort, but last Tuesday, February 17, we met, I think almost all of the constituents, in the polychrome Hall of Lost Steps of Congress. There, the Kings paid us their special honors, as surviving authors of those who formulated the 1978 Constitution: Thank you Don Felipe VI and Letizia, the Queen. For such a great memory that it gave the 36 of us the feeling of having fulfilled an exceptional duty, in the historical life of a great country.
We will continue next week to commemorate our constitutional longevity. And now, inwardly we will shout in silence: Long live the 1978 Constitution!