Spain reflects on 50 years of democracy
Spain is commemorating its transition from dictatorship to democracy after the death of General Francisco Franco in November 1975 under the motto "Spain in freedom: 50 years". Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday launched a series of events that will take place over the next few months. A glance at the opinion sections shows that even after all this time the topic is still controversial.
Looking back should unite, not separate
El País hopes for unity:
“The fact that 50 years after the dictator's death a joint commemoration is impossible points to a profound short-sightedness regarding the threat of a relapse into authoritarianism that today's societies face. ... Especially today, when there are those who dare to justify [Franco's] despotic regime, it is more vital than ever to remember the high price Spanish society paid for the blatant inequalities that made it a profoundly unjust system: this is what democracy had to begin to gradually reverse half a century ago. And it was so successful in doing this that today we can look back without anger and face the future. ... We all deserve credit for this achievement - and the fact that we cannot celebrate it together is a failure.”
A weak semblance of what the country had dreamed of
El Periódico is disappointed with the progress made over the last five decades:
“Half a century has passed since Franco died in his bed, and this country has experienced profound changes. At the same time, many people believe that today's democracy is but a weak semblance of the democracy the country had hoped for when the general passed away. ... Some also believe that the official commemoration is being organised not to preserve historical memory but as a political strategy for the present. ... In any case, it is an exaggeration to say that Spain gained its freedom in 1975. ... Democracy did not manifest itself like a redemptive epiphany 50 years ago.”
Too little focus on educational measures
eldiario.es calls for more resources to be dedicated to educating the country about this chapter in its history:
“It is highly commendable that 50 years after the death of the leader of a deeply corrupt regime, the government is promoting a series of events to educate the new generations about his tyranny. ... But even though many aspects of the events are not yet known, they have already provoked an outcry from a certain section of Spain's die-hard right. ... What is unique about the Spanish case is the sluggishness when it comes to educating the new generations about the past: the lack of resources for teaching pupils about the topic in schools, the ambiguous attitude towards the distortions of the past on social media, mostly by the right.”