Spain Honors Those Hurt by Franco's Rule

Spain's current leaders recently honored those affected by the country's civil war and the long rule of General Francisco Franco. This event happened just before the 50th anniversary of Franco's death. Franco took control in 1936 after a coup against the elected government. This led to a war that lasted three years and was won by Franco's forces. During this time and his rule, around 114, 000 civilians are believed to have disappeared, likely killed by Franco's forces. The event, called "Memory Is Democracy, " was attended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He thanked those who fought for democracy in Spain. He said it was important to dismantle Franco's dictatorship, which took away basic rights and freedoms from many people. Sanchez gave symbolic recognition to 18 living victims of repression and their descendants. One of them was Maria Luisa Ramos, who fled to France and survived a Nazi concentration camp. Another was the niece of Federico Garcia Lorca, a famous poet and playwright who was killed by fascist forces at the start of the war. Sanchez also spoke against efforts to rewrite history, especially by the far right. He promised to protect the freedoms gained since Franco's death in 1975. In 2022, the government passed a law to address Franco's legacy. This law removes Francoist symbols and supports the search for victims buried in mass graves. However, Spanish society is still divided on how to view Franco's era. A recent poll showed that 21. 3% of Spaniards see his rule as good or very good for the country.