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Spain has marked the five-decade milestone of dictator Franco's demise with an no formal commemorations but with a statement by the premier to heed the lessons of the authoritarian regime and defend democratic freedom that was wrenched from us for so many years.

Background History

Franco, whose military coup against the legitimate government in 1936 triggered a civil war and resulted in forty years of authoritarian rule, passed away in Madrid on November 20, 1975.

Although the socialist government has organised a year-long series of events to mark the post-Franco transformation, it ruled out any state acts on the exact day of the dictator's death to avoid accusations that it was trying to honor his death.

Present-Day Worries

The anniversary comes amid growing worries about the insufficient awareness about the authoritarian period, especially among younger Spaniards.

Survey data has indicated that more than 21% of participants felt the Franco regime was positive or excellent, while additional research found almost a quarter of young Spanish adults felt that an c authoritarian government could in certain circumstances be superior to a democratic government.

Administration View

No democracy – including ours – is perfect, the prime minister wrote. Much remains to be done to forge the Spain we want and that we can be: a nation with greater possibilities; expanded liberties and diminished inequity.

The premier, who pointedly did not refer Franco by name, also observed that liberties weren't automatically granted, adding that today's freedoms had been obtained via resilience and resilience of the Spanish people.

Historical Memory Efforts

The government has used historical memory legislation passed in recent years to try to help Spain come to terms with its past.

• Redesignating the Valley of Cuelgamuros – once named the Valley of the Fallen
• Creating a catalog of property confiscated during the era
• Attempting to remove the remaining emblems of the era

Organization Shutdown Attempts

The authorities are presently in the last phases of its initiatives to dissolve the Francisco Franco National Foundation, which exists to preserve and promote the dictator's legacy.

The cultural affairs official declared that his department was seeking to ensure that the dictator's documents – now owned by the organization – was transferred to government control so it could be open to the public.

Partisan Objections

The main conservative opposition is boycotting the government's initiative to mark five decades of freedom, as is the far-right Vox party, which dismissed the programme an morbid fascination that divides Spaniards.

Historical Legacy

Over half a million individuals perished in the civil war, while numerous others were made to flee the country.

Reprisals continued well after Franco's victory in 1939, and the corpses of countless individuals who died in the conflict and in its aftereffects are believed to be in anonymous burial sites.

Democratic Transition

After the dictator's death, Spain began the transformation to representative government, conducting democratic voting in the late seventies and approving a new constitution in a public ballot afterward.