Self-government for La Rioja was the most difficult to obtain. Initially, for reasons of inertia, the central Administration sought to include the province of Logrono in the autonomous region of castile and Leon, while part of the left-wing opposition supported the creation of a regional grouping together with the Basque Country and Navarre, while others accepted the possibility of an autonomous La Rioja.

On October 4th, 1979, the City Council of Logrono unexpectedly set in motion the autonomy process, basing its initiative on Article 143 of the Constitution.

On November 22nd, 1980, the province of Logrono changed its name to La Rioja. In April 1981 its draft Statute was approved and in June 1982 it was set up as an Autonomy Community.

La Rioja was set up as an Autonomous Community under Organic Law 3/1982, June 9th (B.O.E. 9-6-82).