[10] Giving up in the project of a "reformist centre" Fraga and his small association Democratic Reform (successor of GODSA [es]) made a turn towards neo-Francoism (the opposite path was followed by Adolfo Suárez) and joined and led what was to become, until 1979, the main neo-Francoist platform.

It was hoped that this new coalition would capture the support of those who had voted for the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) in 1977, but who had become disenchanted with the Suárez government.

The increased strength of the AP was further evidenced in the municipal and regional elections held in May 1983, when the party drew 26 percent of the vote.

A significant portion of the electorate appeared to support the AP's emphasis on law and order as well as its pro-business policies.

Prior to the June 1986 elections, the AP once again joined forces with the PDP, and along with the Liberal Party (PL), formed the CP, in another attempt to expand its constituency to include the center of the political spectrum.

When regional elections in late 1986 resulted in further losses for the coalition, Fraga resigned as AP president, although he retained his parliamentary seat.

When support for the AP plummeted in the municipal and regional elections held in June 1987, speculation abounded that it would be overtaken as major opposition party by Suarez's Democratic and Social Centre (CDS).