The leaders of the party were Ruiz-Mateos, his son in law Carlos Perrau of Pinninck (vice president) and Carmen Lovelle Alen (general secretary).

[1] In February 1983, the government of Spain ordered the expropriation of the Rumasa group of companies led by José María Ruiz-Mateos, for unpaid social security taxes and accounting irregularities.

Ruiz-Mateos was convicted of mismanagement of corporate finances, and started a long legal battle with the Spanish state and the then Minister of Economy, Miguel Boyer, to try to reclaim his companies and obtain compensation.

A month before the election, the businessman had assaulted Miguel Boyer in the corridors of a courthouse, and he consequently conducted his entire electoral campaign under a warrant of arrest.

During his five years as an MEP, Ruiz-Mateos served as vice president of the European Democratic Alliance (EDA-RDE) and delegate for relations with Switzerland.