🔗 Share this article

Spain has commemorated the five-decade milestone of Franco's passing with an no formal commemorations but with a call from the prime minister to learn from the history of the repressive era and protect democratic liberties that was wrenched from us for so many years.

Background History

The dictator, whose armed uprising against the democratically elected administration in 1936 led to internal warfare and brought about four decades of repressive regime, succumbed in Madrid on the twentieth of November, 1975.

Although the socialist government has planned a twelve-month program of events to mark the democratic transition, it declined government events on the exact day of the dictator's death to deter suggestions that it was trying to honor his death.

Present-Day Worries

The commemoration occurs during increasing concerns about the insufficient awareness about the authoritarian period, especially among younger Spaniards.

Survey data has indicated that more than 21% of participants felt the Franco regime was good or very good, while additional research found almost a quarter of Spaniards aged 18 to 28 felt that an authoritarian regime could occasionally be better to a democratic government.

Administration View

All democratic systems have flaws, the leader stated. Significant progress is needed to forge the Spain we want and that we can be: a nation with greater possibilities; expanded liberties and diminished inequity.

The premier, who deliberately avoided mentioning Franco by name, also commented that freedom wasn't freely given, stating that today's freedoms had been obtained via resilience and persistence of the population.

Historical Memory Efforts

The government has used historical memory legislation enacted recently to try to help Spain address historical events.

• Redesignating the Valley of Cuelgamuros – formerly called the Memorial Valley
• Developing a registry of assets taken by the government
• Attempting to remove the remaining emblems of the era

Foundation Closure Efforts

The administration is currently in the final stages of its initiatives to dissolve the Franco legacy organization, which functions to uphold and promote the dictator's legacy.

The culture minister announced that his office was working to ensure that the historical records – currently in the possession of the foundation – was handed over to the state so it could be open to the public.

Political Resistance

The main conservative opposition is opposing the official commemoration to celebrate 50 years of democracy, as is the far-right Vox party, which called the effort an unnecessary obsession that creates division among citizens.

Historical Legacy

Numerous citizens died during the conflict, while countless additional people were made to flee the country.

Punitive measures extended long after the conflict ended in 1939, and the bodies of more than 100,000 people killed during the war and in its aftereffects are believed to be in unidentified collective tombs.

Democratic Transition

Following the leader's demise, Spain started the journey toward democratic governance, conducting democratic voting in that period and approving a new constitution in a public ballot afterward.