Franco no longer lives here

Beware of vilify Franco too much, because in a society like the Spanish one that likes so much to go against what the official ‘establishment’ blesses, we can end up hearing that the dictatorship was not as horrible as they say. Well no, the dictatorship was horrible, as horrible as the pessimists and much more than optimists remember.

If this were a history class we would have to analyze the reasons of why there was a Civil War and gave rise to a dictatorship. But this is just a simple opinion article analyzing the 50 years since the death of Franco, the dictator, that will be fulfilled tomorrow, the 20thfrom a current vision and somewhat distant from the facts. Half a century has passed and, yet, many bitter hysterics are still determined to beat the dead man and take him out for a walk to reopen old wounds. For them, harmony is a Chinese story, they prefer polarize some and others for the benefit of their political confrontation.

“Let us not forget that the democratic opposition did not manage to throw him out of his chair and neither did international isolation”

As you will remember, if you are over 20 years old and have a minimum of culture General, Franco died in bed. It may seem obvious but deep down it is a reality that has its importance: surviving in power for 36 years is not something that any ruler can achieve. Yes, I know that Strong hand works well in autocraciesbut let’s not forget that the democratic opposition did not manage to throw him out of his chair and neither did international isolation.

What allowed Franco to last for so many years was his sibylline capacity for adaptation and its ability to take advantage of geopolitics. Franco defeated communism in the Civil War, and then took advantage of the fear that the USSR provoked in Western democracies such as the US and the United Kingdom to be allowed to continue governing, ensuring that the Western Europe was outside the Soviet orbit. It was the Cold War between blocs that facilitated and in some way allowed the continuity of Francoism.

“Franco has been dead for 50 years, but the danger of dictatorships remains today, even in apparently ‘civilized’ countries”

Starting in the 60s of the 20th century, with the technocrats in power, what began some call the “soft dictator”thanks to strong economic growth, the creation of a consolidated middle class and an incipient welfare state. The better living conditions gave the regime certain wings to survive. It’s not that the dictatorship was a positive thing.but prosperity hid the miseries of the lack of freedom that prevailed in society at that time.

The main argument to despise and combat any dictatorship is the lack of freedom. As Don Quixote said and Cervantes wrote, ““Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that the heavens gave to men.”. Well that, Freedom is a gift that not even God dares to question. Its importance and significance lies in the fact that no human being has the right to limit or curtail it: ““For freedom, as well as for honor, one can and must risk one’s life.”. These poor creatures, you and I, tiny compared to the Universe, but immense in our condition as free human beingswe are capable of reasoning and acting without impediments or obstacles, and without anyone – except democratic laws – preventing us from doing so.

democracy It is not perfect, as Churchill recognizedbut even in Spain where lately it leaves much to be desired, it is preferable to any type of dictatorship and autocracy. Franco has been dead for 50 years, but the danger of dictatorships remains today, even in apparently ‘civilized’ countries. In situations like this, we must confront populist autocrats and defend the gift of freedom, even demanding that no one deprive us of our right to make mistakes.