He graduated in Law from the University of Salamanca in 1953 and pursued doctoral studies at the Complutense University of Madrid, which later awarded him an honorary doctorate.

He was a lawyer registered with the Illustrious Bar Association of Madrid.

He served as Civil Governor of Segovia from 1968 to 1969.

From 1976 to 1981, he was Prime Minister of Spain and the founder and President of the U.C.D. (Union of the Democratic Centre).

He led the process of the Spanish political Transition.

In 1981, upon his resignation as Prime Minister, His Majesty the King granted him the title Duke of Suárez and Grandee of Spain in recognition of his work during the Transition.

During his term as Prime Minister, he won the general elections by majority in 1977 and 1979.

In July 1982, he founded the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS), of which he was elected President until May 1991, when he resigned and retired from political life.

He was a member of the InterAction Council, an international organization comprising thirty former Heads of State and Government from around the world.

He served as President of the International Council of the Institute for European-Latin American Relations (IRELA) and as Vice President and President of the Liberal and Progressive International.

He was a Member of Parliament for Madrid in the Spanish Congress in every legislature from 1977 to 1991.

He held numerous national and international decorations and awards.

In September 1996, he received the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, unanimously granted by the eighteen-member jury.

In 1997, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the National University of Asunción (Paraguay).

In December 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of A Coruña.

He was conferred an honorary doctorate in March 1998 by the Polytechnic University of Madrid and in October 1998 by the Polytechnic University of Valencia.