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Spain has marked the 50th anniversary of Francisco Franco's death with an no formal commemorations but with a call from the prime minister to heed the lessons of the repressive era and defend democratic freedom that was stolen for so many years.

Background History

Franco, whose rebellion against the legitimate government in 1936 triggered a civil war and brought about four decades of repressive regime, passed away in Madrid on November 20, 1975.

Although the socialist government has arranged an extended calendar 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 seeking to celebrate his death.

Contemporary Concerns

The marking happens alongside rising apprehension about the insufficient awareness about the dictatorship, especially among younger Spaniards.

Survey data has shown that over one-fifth of those surveyed felt the Franco regime was positive or excellent, while another study found nearly 25% of youth population felt that an authoritarian regime could in certain circumstances be superior to a democratic one.

Administration View

All democratic systems have flaws, the leader stated. Much remains to be done to build the desired nation and that we can be: a nation with greater possibilities; expanded liberties and diminished inequity.

The national leader, who deliberately avoided mentioning Franco by name, also observed that freedom wasn't freely given, stating that current liberties had been achieved through perseverance and resilience of the Spanish people.

Commemoration Initiatives

The government has used historical memory legislation enacted recently to assist the nation address historical events.

• Changing the location's designation – formerly called the Valley of the Deceased
• Developing a registry of goods seized by the regime
• Seeking to eliminate the last vestiges of Francoist symbols

Institution Dissolution Process

The authorities are presently in the last phases of its attempts to shut down the Franco legacy organization, which exists to preserve and advance the leader's memory.

The culture minister announced that his department was seeking to ensure that the historical records – presently held by the institution – was transferred to government control so it could be available to citizens.

Political Opposition

The main conservative opposition is rejecting the administration's program to observe half-century of liberties, as is the far-right Vox party, which rejected the initiative an morbid fascination that creates division among citizens.

Historical Legacy

More than 500,000 people perished in the civil war, while hundreds of thousands more were made to flee the country.

Reprisals continued well after Franco's victory in 1939, and the remains of numerous victims killed during the war and in its aftermath are estimated to lie in anonymous burial sites.

Political Evolution

Following the leader's demise, Spain began the transformation back to democracy, holding free elections in the late seventies and approving a new constitution in a national vote subsequently.