🔗 Share this article

Spain has commemorated the half-century mark of Francisco Franco's death with an no formal commemorations but with a statement by the premier to understand the warnings of the repressive era and defend democratic freedom that was wrenched from us for so many years.

Background History

Franco, whose rebellion against the elected republican government in 1936 led to internal warfare and brought about four decades of repressive regime, died in Madrid on 20 November 1975.

While the current administration has planned a twelve-month program of programs to observe the post-Franco transformation, it avoided official ceremonies on the exact day of the ruler's demise to prevent claims that it was attempting to glorify his death.

Present-Day Worries

The commemoration occurs during growing worries about the insufficient awareness about the dictatorship, especially among younger Spaniards.

Research findings has shown that more than 21% of respondents felt the dictatorship period was favorable or highly favorable, while another study found approximately one-fourth of youth population felt that an non-democratic system could in certain circumstances be superior to a democratic system.

Government Perspective

All democratic systems have flaws, the prime minister wrote. Much remains to be done to forge the Spain we want and that we can be: a place of more opportunity; expanded liberties and diminished inequity.

The premier, who consciously omitted naming Franco by name, also commented that freedom wasn't freely given, stating that today's freedoms had been obtained via resilience and fortitude of citizens.

Historical Memory Efforts

The government has used commemoration statutes passed in recent years to assist the nation address historical events.

• Changing the location's designation – once named the Memorial Valley
• Developing a registry of property confiscated during the era
• Seeking to eliminate the remaining emblems of the era

Organization Shutdown Attempts

The administration is currently in the concluding steps of its initiatives to dissolve the Francisco Franco National Foundation, which exists to preserve and promote the dictator's legacy.

The heritage department head announced that his ministry was attempting to guarantee that Franco's official archive – presently held by the organization – was given to national authorities so it could be accessed by all Spaniards.

Political Resistance

The opposition conservative People's party is rejecting the administration's program to observe half-century of liberties, as is the far-right Vox party, which rejected the initiative an absurd necrophilia that splits the population.

Historical Impact

More than 500,000 people perished in the civil war, while hundreds of thousands more were made to flee the country.

Retaliation persisted well after Franco's victory in 1939, and the corpses of countless individuals killed during the war and in its aftermath are believed to be in anonymous burial sites.

Government Transformation

After the dictator's death, Spain began the transformation to representative government, conducting democratic voting in that period and ratifying a fresh charter in a public ballot afterward.