🔗 Share this article Spain Marks 50th Anniversary of Francisco Franco's Death Spain has marked the five-decade milestone of Francisco Franco's death with an no formal commemorations but with a message from the government leader to heed the lessons of the repressive era and protect democratic liberties that was taken away for decades. Past Events Franco, whose rebellion against the legitimate government in 1936 triggered a civil war and brought about four decades of repressive regime, succumbed in Madrid on 20 November 1975. Although the socialist government has planned a twelve-month program of events to mark the political evolution, it ruled out any state acts on the actual anniversary of the leader's passing to prevent claims that it was seeking to celebrate his death. Present-Day Worries The anniversary comes amid rising apprehension about the limited understanding about the dictatorship, notably within younger generations. Survey data has revealed that over one-fifth of those surveyed felt the Franco era was good or very good, while further polling found approximately one-fourth of Spaniards aged 18 to 28 felt that an non-democratic system could occasionally be better to a democratic government. Government Perspective No democracy – including ours – is perfect, the prime minister wrote. Much remains to be done to build the desired nation and that we can be: a nation with greater possibilities; more rights and less inequality. The government official, who consciously omitted naming Franco by name, also noted that democracy didn't fall from the sky, emphasizing that today's freedoms had been achieved through perseverance and fortitude of citizens. Commemoration Initiatives The authorities have utilized commemoration statutes passed in recent years to support the country come to terms with its past. Renaming the historical site – formerly called the Valley of the Deceased Compiling an inventory of goods seized by the regime Seeking to eliminate the remaining emblems of the era Organization Shutdown Attempts The government is also in the concluding steps of its efforts to close the Franco legacy organization, which operates to maintain and support the regime's heritage. The cultural affairs official stated that his ministry was attempting to ensure that the dictator's documents – presently held by the organization – was given to national authorities so it could be accessed by all Spaniards. Partisan Objections The opposition conservative People's party is opposing the official commemoration to celebrate 50 years of democracy, as is the right-wing political organization, which rejected the initiative an morbid fascination that divides Spaniards. Historical Legacy More than 500,000 people perished in the civil war, while hundreds of thousands more were forced into exile. Retaliation persisted extensively following the war in 1939, and the bodies of more than 100,000 people who died in the conflict and in its consequences are believed to be in unidentified collective tombs. Democratic Transition After the dictator's death, Spain started the journey back to democracy, holding free elections in that period and adopting a modern framework in a public ballot afterward.