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Spain has commemorated the five-decade milestone of Francisco Franco's death with an no formal commemorations but with a call from the prime minister to heed the lessons of the authoritarian regime and defend democratic freedom that was wrenched from us for decades.

Background History

Franco, whose rebellion against the elected republican government in 1936 sparked a civil conflict and brought about four decades of dictatorship, succumbed in Madrid on the twentieth of November, 1975.

Despite the government has planned a twelve-month program of events to mark the democratic transition, it ruled out any state acts on the exact day of the leader's passing to avoid accusations that it was attempting to glorify his death.

Contemporary Concerns

The commemoration occurs during increasing concerns about the limited understanding about the dictatorship, notably within younger generations.

Survey data has indicated that over one-fifth of respondents felt the Franco regime was favorable or highly favorable, while additional research found approximately one-fourth of young Spanish adults felt that an non-democratic system could sometimes be preferable to a democratic one.

Government Perspective

No democracy – including ours – is perfect, the prime minister wrote. Considerable work lies ahead to create the preferred country and that we can be: a nation with greater possibilities; more rights and less inequality.

The government official, who pointedly did not refer Franco by name, also noted that liberties weren't automatically granted, stating that current liberties had been achieved through perseverance and fortitude of citizens.

Commemoration Initiatives

The government has used remembrance laws introduced three years ago to try to help Spain address historical events.

• Changing the location's designation – formerly called the Valley of the Deceased
• Compiling an inventory of assets taken by the government
• Attempting to remove the final remnants of dictatorship imagery

Organization Shutdown Attempts

The authorities are presently in the concluding steps of its efforts to close the Franco legacy organization, which exists to preserve and support the regime's heritage.

The culture minister announced that his ministry was attempting to guarantee that the historical records – now owned by the institution – was handed over to the state so it could be available to citizens.

Partisan Objections

The opposition conservative People's party is rejecting the administration's program to observe half-century of liberties, as is the right-wing political organization, which rejected the initiative an morbid fascination that divides Spaniards.

Historical Legacy

More than 500,000 people lost their lives in the fighting, while numerous others were forced into exile.

Retaliation persisted extensively following the war in 1939, and the remains of numerous victims who died in the conflict and in its aftermath are estimated to lie in unmarked mass graves.

Democratic Transition

After the dictator's death, Spain embarked on the transition toward democratic governance, organizing open polls in the late seventies and approving a new constitution in a national vote subsequently.