Spanish politician, the only civilian premier appointed by dictator General Francisco Franco (Franco, Francisco).

After receiving a doctorate in law, Arias Navarro began his service with the Ministry of Justice in 1929. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), he was imprisoned by the Republicans, a group loyal to the republic, but he was freed by Franco's forces, to which he was closely allied, and made a military prosecutor. Arias Navarro then served as civil governor of the province of León (1944–49), governor of Navarre (Navarra) (1949), director general of security (1957–65), mayor of Madrid (1965–73), and minister of the interior (1973). His appointment as premier took place after the bombing death of Premier Luis Carrero Blanco in 1973 by Basque separatists. After Franco's death, King Juan Carlos retained Arias Navarro as premier, but his inability to carry out any reform of the Francoist political system led to his dismissal in 1976 by the king and his replacement by Adolfo Suárez (Suárez González, Adolfo).