49 Years After Franco: A Complex Legacy of Hope, Violence, and Political Polarization in Spain
It has been 49 years since the death of the dictator, and along the way, there have been both hopes and disappointments, progress and regression. However, the current incongruent political violence poses a threat to the general well-being of society.
In the previous memorandum, we left the dictator agonizing in room 103 of the La Paz health center. Those who manipulated his demise decided that he would officially die in the early hours of November 20, coinciding with the execution of José Antonio Primo de Rivera on November 20, 1936, or to control the information surrounding the expected news of the Great Passing. Reliable testimonies indicate that he succumbed to a brain death later in the evening of the 19th but the order to disconnect the life support was not given until the dawn of the next day.
As we approach 2024, we see that it marks the 60th anniversary of a monstrous propaganda campaign by the dictatorship, managed by Minister of Information and Tourism Manuel Fraga, titled "25 Years of Peace"—a phrase characterized by popular ingenuity that represents 'peace of the cemeteries'. November 20, 1975, marked the beginning of a new era, a true peace that has lasted for nearly fifty years.
Before reflecting on these 49 years of peace without Franco, let’s revisit hospital room 609 of the Provincial Francisco Franco Health Center where the dictator was admitted on July 9, 1974, due to thrombophlebitis. Here we reveal an exclusive document—the original text of Franco's transfer of powers to King Juan Carlos.
This is provided by Ignacio Vasallo, an old friend from the Cambio 16 era, who was a key figure during the late Franco régime. On July 19, after a severe hemorrhagic episode, Franco signed the power transfer. The informative note was drafted by Manuel Jiménez Quílez and edited by Vasallo himself, along with some handwritten corrections.
After Franco's death, one of the most notable events in the context of Spanish media was that Spanish Television planned to air the film 'Satan Never Sleeps.' However, they opted for caution and decided to suspend the broadcast, mindful of the implications of its title on such a sensitive occasion.
The tumultuous post-Franco era was marked by significant violence, stemming from fears of civil war and political turmoil that reigned during the early years of the transition. French historian Sophie Baby observed that the climate of tension, in the wake of Franco's rule, facilitated various violent acts. Although Spain did not face widespread conflict, acts of violence from both the far right and the far left emerged, resulting in over 800 deaths from groups like ETA, which continued their deadly trajectory until their decline.
Institutional violence from the state, including the notorious GAL—Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups, further complicated this landscape. Despite this chaotic context, Spain’s transition toward democracy is marked by moments of significant consensus where leaders from divergent political backgrounds, such as Santiago Carrillo and Adolfo Suárez, made sacrifices for the greater good of Spain’s political future.
Despite the ambition to move toward a more democratic society, a 'pact of forgetting' ensued where the injustices of the past were largely overlooked to facilitate the transition. However, the need for accountability remains a point of contention both within political circles and society at large. The past 50 years, marked by political violence and corruption, also brought moments of hope and democratic resilience.
As Spain marks nearly half a century post-Franco, the absence of physical political violence has been replaced by previously unseen forms of ideological and discursive violence. Political discourse has evolved into a realm of extreme polarization and contention, increasingly characterized by an absence of consensus, where respectful debate often gives way to hostility.
The role of media in this context cannot be understated, as Spain experiences an era in which misinformation proliferates under the guise of news, fueling further societal unrest. Given this complex and often painful historical backdrop, it becomes crucial for the public and politicians alike to engage in more constructive dialogue, fostering an environment where truth prevails over propaganda.
The reflections on Spain's journey since Franco’s death highlight a country grappling with its past while trying to navigate a future full of hope and challenges. The commitments of modern political leaders to represent and unite various segments of society could redefine the legacy of those 49 years, creating a society that learns from history while moving toward a more harmonious future.
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