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Spain has commemorated the 50th anniversary of Franco's passing with an absence of official events but with a call from the prime minister to understand the warnings of the repressive era and safeguard democratic rights that was taken away for generations.

Background History

Franco, whose military coup against the elected republican government in 1936 triggered a civil war and ushered in generations of repressive regime, passed away in Madrid on November 20, 1975.

Although the socialist government has planned a twelve-month program of programs to observe the democratic transition, it avoided official ceremonies on the specific date of the dictator's death to avoid accusations that it was attempting to glorify his death.

Present-Day Worries

The commemoration occurs during growing worries about the limited understanding about the authoritarian period, especially among younger Spaniards.

Recent polling has shown that over one-fifth of those surveyed felt the Franco regime was positive or excellent, while additional research found approximately one-fourth of young Spanish adults felt that an non-democratic system could in certain circumstances be superior to a democratic one.

Official Position

No democracy – including ours – is perfect, the prime minister wrote. Considerable work lies ahead to forge the Spain we want and that we can be: a country with enhanced prospects; expanded liberties and diminished inequity.

The national leader, who pointedly did not refer Franco by name, also noted that freedom wasn't freely given, emphasizing that present-day rights had been achieved through perseverance and persistence of the population.

Remembrance Programs

The administration has employed commemoration statutes passed in recent years to try to help Spain address historical events.

• Renaming the historical site – once named the Valley of the Fallen
• Developing a registry of assets taken by the government
• Seeking to eliminate the remaining emblems of the era

Organization Shutdown Attempts

The government is also in the last phases of its attempts to shut down the Francisco Franco National Foundation, which exists to preserve and support the regime's heritage.

The cultural affairs official stated that his department was seeking to make sure that the dictator's documents – currently in the possession of the organization – was transferred to government control so it could be available to citizens.

Partisan Objections

The opposition conservative People's party is opposing the official commemoration to mark five decades of freedom, as is the right-wing political organization, which called the effort an morbid fascination that creates division among citizens.

Historical Impact

More than 500,000 people lost their lives in the fighting, while hundreds of thousands more were compelled to leave.

Punitive measures extended well after Franco's victory in 1939, and the remains of numerous victims killed during the war and in its aftereffects are believed to be in unidentified collective tombs.

Political Evolution

Following the leader's demise, Spain embarked on the transition toward democratic governance, conducting democratic voting in that period and adopting a modern framework in a national vote subsequently.