Calvo Sotelo, Leopoldo

(lā´´əpōl´dō käl´vō sōtĕl´ō), 1926–, Spanish engineer and political leader. He held (1975–77) ministerial posts before becoming (1980) deputy prime minister for economic affairs. After leading the Union of the Democratic Center to victory in 1981, he was confirmed as prime minister despite an abortive military coup in which the parliament was seized. He resigned before the 1982 elections in which the Socialist party, led by Felipe González, was victorious.