Replies

I was familiar with the basic history of the Spanish Civil War (not the Lincoln Brigade Version) at an early age, and my sympathies were with the Catholics who were murdered by the “progressive” Socialists and Communists.

Franco got a bad press, to say the least.

So it was not surprising when the Socialists rode into power in reaction to him. What was surprising and gratifying was that they did not stay in power. But now they have a second shot at it, and will surely try to arrange things so they don’t leave a second time.

That’s always the risk with Communists. Once in power, they stay in power, and can only be thrown out by popular uprisings, because they bend the laws and the communications media to their own desires.

I just hope it hasn’t got that far again.

Well, do not think it is so easy for a Spaniard to take sides. It is hard because in the Red side stayed many people that sincerely believed that the Republic was still the solution to Spanish problems and that things hadn't gone too far yet, that the situation could be channeled and the Republic might have survived.

Spanish families were often broken because younger members favored a more direct approach to Spanish problems and identified themselves in some way with the Republic whilst older or better positioned ones preferred a system that above all guaranteed order.

That was the big tragedy of the Spanish civil war, that being the distinction just a political one, families often broke appart.

Regarding Franco, I think he did what he had to do. He did not avoided his responsibility. The uprising was a disaster, -at that point the left wing government controlled most of the Spanish army- but he managed to airborne his loyal troops of Africa to western Andalucia, whilst the Reds, sure of their victory, were killing many of their officers. Franco took a huge risk and almost failed.

On the reaction against Franco, I sincerely don't think it really happened. They voted Suárez, a reformist former high rank officer in the Franco's regime, as prime minister. When Suárez bravely resigned in 1981, probably angry because his popularity was used as an alibi so "others" could impose their interests; the only option left for the Spaniards were the Socialists.

And the Socialists have occupied just the same niche of Franco. They have colluded their party with the State itself, they kept centralist decision making (except for the Basque country and Catalonia) and they kept a Socialist economy.

That is, the protection and funding of the Socialist party from outside was carried out in order to avoid a reaction that never show signs of happening. Spain was not Italy. Even the Spanish Communist Party was moderate compared to the Portuguese one.

That is the problem of Spain right now, that we are still living in some kind of Franco's regime: elections are held, but very powerful people, the same that triggered Suárez resignation in 1981, get very angry if it is not elected who they want.