Xunta de Galicia

Government of Galicia
Government of Galicia
Xunta de Galicia
Overview
Established	1981
Polity	Galicia
Leader	President
Appointed by	King of Spain
Responsible to	Parliament of Galicia
Headquarters	Santiago de Compostela
Website	www.xunta.gal

The Xunta de Galicia (Galician pronunciation: [ˈʃuntɐ ðɪ ɣaˈliθjɐ]; "Regional Government of Galicia")^[1] is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-president(s) and the specialized ministers (Conselleiros).

The Xunta is based at Santiago de Compostela, the Galician government capital. The Xunta de Galicia has delegations in the four provincial capital cities of Galicia: A Coruña, Pontevedra, Ourense and Lugo.

Legal basis

Article 16, Section 2 of the Galician Statute of Autonomy states that

The Vice presidents and Ministers shall be appointed and dismissed by the President.

History

The Xunta de Galicia finds its origins in the Xunta of the Kingdom of Galicia active between 1528 and 1833. The Xunta was Galicia's representation to the central Spanish monarchy. The Xunta was composed of representatives from the cities (dioceses) of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Betanzos, A Coruña, Mondoñedo, Ourense, and Tui. But at that time, the Xunta did not hold real power; it was a consultative body only.

During the Peninsular War, which started in 1808, the Xunta Suprema de Galicia directed the war against the French invaders and maintained the public order in Galician territory. This Xunta Suprema was in charge of military, legislative issues, and international relations. It was the first time that the Xunta had real autonomy, as the Spanish control weakened. This situation lasted until the French invaders were eventually expelled from the Iberian Peninsula and Ferdinand VII of Spain gradually recovered control over former territories (1813–1814).

In 1833, the Xunta was dismantled following the provincial division engaged in Spain by minister Javier de Burgos, under the regency of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. In this way, Galicia was separated into four provinces, each one managed by a Provincial Council.

Yet, in 1843, the Xunta Central de Galicia was created and presided over by Xosé Maria Suances. In 1846, commander Miguel Solís initiated a military uprising in Lugo. He put an end to the Provincial Councils and created the Xunta Superior do Goberno de Galicia, presided over by Pio Rodríguez Terrazo. This movement attempted to re-unify Galicia and called for Galicia's self-rule. Solís was eventually defeated at the Battle of Cacheiras (23 April 1846) and the so-called Martyrs of Carral were executed on 27 April.

Prospects for Galician self-government and possible restoration of a Xunta came close while the Galician Statute of Autonomy of 1936 was being discussed at the time of the Spanish Second Republic (1931–1939). However, the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and subsequent Francoist Spain (1939–1977) halted the process. There was a temporary Galician government in exile, presided by Castelao, although this was not called Xunta but Consello da Galiza (Council of Galicia).

The process of devolution initiated by the passing of the Spanish Constitution in 1978 allowed for the establishment of a new Xunta on 16 March 1978. The Galician Statute of Autonomy (1981), came to ratify the Xunta and Galicia's self-government.

Current cabinet

The consellerías are the different departments, or ministries, of the Xunta de Galicia. They are the responsibility of the conselleiros (masculine) or conselleiras (feminine). The conselleiros and conselleiras form the actual cabinet^[2] of the government, close to the President.

Location

Edificios Administrativos San Caetano
San Caetano, s/n
15704 - Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña).
Pazo de Raxoi
Praza do Obradoiro
15705 - Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña).
Sede Provincial da Xunta de Galicia na Coruña
Vicente Ferrer, 2
15008 - A Coruña (A Coruña).
Sede Provincial da Xunta de Galicia en Pontevedra
Fernández Ladreda, 43
36003 - Pontevedra (Pontevedra).
Sede Provincial da Xunta de Galicia en Ourense
Habana, 79
32004 - Ourense (Ourense).
Sede Provincial da Xunta de Galicia en Lugo
Ronda da Muralla, 70
27001 - Lugo (Lugo).
Sede local da Xunta de Galicia en Vigo
Concepción Arenal, 8
36201 - Vigo (Pontevedra).
Sede local da Xunta de Galicia en Ferrol
Praza de España, 2
15403 - Ferrol (A Coruña).