Why and how is Spain still haunted by Franco?
Ajay Rajapakse
We are witnessing a change in the political landscape of Europe today. Far-right extremism is sweeping across the continent, echoing the old turbulence of the 20th century. In this essay I will focus on Spain’s experiences and will try to answer questions on Franco’s current presence there: Why is it occurring? How is it affecting the political system? How are the public involved? Franco’s continued presence has certainly contributed to the recent and significant rise in far-right extremism that Spain is currently witnessing. Lidia Falcón (who lived and suffered under Franco’s rule) states that: ‘ a lot of Fascists are rising to the surface now ’ . 1 Clearly, far-right extremism is making a return. Despite other countries also experiencing a rise in far right-extremism, Spain is observing something that is significantly related to its old dictator. The difference between Spain’s situation with that of Italy and Germany lies in the fact its dictatorship only ended in 1975. It formed immediately after the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), a revolution which differed from most others of the 20th century. It is often regarded as a battle of ideologies, between communism and fascism; fighting for dictatorship or democracy. After 3 years of civil conflict Franco’s nationalists, supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, defeated Prime Minster Caballero and his Republican army. The civil war engendered one of the longest fascist regimes of modern times. This is because Franco’s dictatorship didn’t fall victim to World War Two like the regimes of Hitler and Mussolini, primarily due to Spain’s official wartime policy of neutrality. With the deaths of Mussolini and Hitler marking an end to their extreme right- wing dictatorships, Franco’s survival ensured his regime’s longevity, which is why he remains a troubledmemory for Spain today. El Caudillo (Franco) ruled 30 years longer thanmost Fascist dictators. Any action to eradicate aspects of fascism in Spain were therefore delayed by three decades compared to most of Europe. Thus, when other nations progressed into democracy and liberalism, Spain did not join the trend. This made the transition in 1975 (upon Franco’s death) from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democratic state a difficult one, as Franco’s existing dictatorship had been well- established and developed for over 30 years. The uneasy transition has led to remnants of ‘Francoism' leaking from the past into the present, with the dictator retaining his presence over the nation. Unlike most European dictators of the 20th century, Franco’s body was laid to rest in a glorified structure. ‘ The monument is a veritable shrine to Francoism and an obligatory pilgrimage for Franco ’ s defenders ’ ; such a description highlights the profound image of Franco that still exists in Spain, as well as the attraction of his shrine to a growing number of extreme right-wing members of public. 2 The moving of his body has caused debates for many years, culminating in the autumn of 2019 when his remains were eventually exhumed. Perhaps a victory for democracy, but this delayed response has scarred the nation. The site was meant to be a neutral burial ground for the fallen during the civil war, yet having Franco’s body there for so long enraged many. Despite the removal of the dictator the
1 Falcón, L . (2019) ‘Is Franco’s shadow fading?’ The Observer Special report : 21-23 2 Encarnación, O. Spain’ s Dictator Is Dead, but the Debate About Him Lives On . At https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/07/27/spains-dictator-is-dead-but-his-popularity-lives-on.
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