Lorraine Williamson
Fifty years after the death of Francisco Franco, the shadow of his dictatorship still hangs over Spain. A new survey by Spain’s national research institute (CIS) reveals that memories of the regime remain sharply split along political, generational, and gender lines — exposing how the past continues to shape the nation’s politics and identity.
Spain will soon mark half a century since Franco’s death, with over a hundred official events planned to commemorate the country’s transition to democracy. Yet, despite decades of democratic rule, one in five Spaniards still view the dictatorship as “good” or “very good.”
The figure reflects how the Franco era — marked by censorship, executions, and political persecution — has not been universally condemned. Historians warn that revisionist voices are gaining ground, particularly online, where videos and posts glorifying the regime circulate widely on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
Political divide: Vox and PP supporters more sympathetic
The CIS data paint a stark political picture. Among supporters of the far-right Vox party, 42% describe the dictatorship as “good.” Within the conservative Partido Popular (PP), that sentiment is shared by over a third of voters — more than those who say it was “bad.”
In contrast, among socialist PSOE voters, rejection of the Franco years remains overwhelming. The difference between PSOE and Vox voters who describe the dictatorship as “very bad” reaches an extraordinary 58 percentage points.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal has even declared in parliament that “the current government is worse than the dictatorship,” while other Vox MPs claim young Spaniards are “rediscovering” what they call a period of “progress and reconciliation.”
Age and memory: Young Spaniards split over the past
Perhaps most striking is the attitude of younger generations. Nearly 20% of people aged 18 to 24 — who never lived under the dictatorship — describe it as “good” or “very good.” Their perception contrasts with the lived experiences of older Spaniards, particularly women, who remember restrictions that kept them from opening bank accounts or signing contracts without male consent.
Yet even among older age groups, nostalgia for the Franco years persists, particularly among those over 55. Across all ages, however, a clear majority still view the dictatorship as “bad” or “very bad.”
Women reject Franco’s Spain more strongly
Gender differences remain evident. Women, who faced systemic legal and social repression during the dictatorship, show stronger rejection of the regime than men. Under Franco, women’s rights were effectively erased: careers were limited, divorce was banned, and traditional family roles were enforced by law and religion.
For many, the dictatorship symbolises not stability but suffocation — a world where voices were silenced and freedom was conditional.
Democracy valued, but not by all
When asked whether Spain’s current democratic system is better than Franco’s authoritarian rule, nearly three-quarters of respondents (74.6%) said it is “better” or “much better.” Yet 17.3% consider democracy worse — a view shared by 31.5% of PP voters and a striking 61% of Vox supporters.
That scepticism is especially visible among the youngest Spaniards: 14.4% of those aged 18 to 24 say democracy is worse than the dictatorship, raising concerns about historical awareness and civic education.
Historians warn of revisionism
Academics across Spain have warned that the education system remains ill-equipped to confront the denial or distortion of the Franco era. Pro-Franco groups continue to challenge Spain’s Law of Historical Memory, file lawsuits, and organise events aimed at sanitising the regime’s image.
Meanwhile, the unearthing of mass graves, the recovery of stolen children, and the search for truth by families of victims continue — slow, painful reminders that the wounds of dictatorship remain open.
Between memory and oblivion
Spain’s struggle over how to remember its past is, at heart, a struggle over what kind of country it wants to be. As the government commemorates the transition to democracy, voices on the right call to “let the past rest.” But as long as the country remains divided over whether the dictatorship “wasn’t so bad,” Franco’s shadow will remain — not just as history, but as a question of identity, justice, and the meaning of democracy itself.
Source: El País