Felipe González Márquez (born in Seville, Andalucía, on March 5, 1942) graduated in 1966 with a law degree. Afterward, he specialized in representing workers and he also taught law at Seville University. At the beginning of his studies, he was a member of two Catholic organizations. He joined the illegal Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) in 1962, and as a party activist he used the nom de guerre Isidoro. From 1965 to 1969, he was a part of the PSOE Seville Provincial Committee; from 1969 he served on the PSOE National Committee; and in 1970 he became a member of the party's Executive Commission.

He was arrested in 1971 for attending protests against General Francisco Franco. In 1974, he was elected PSOE general secretary, which represented ...