Spain's Neo‑Francoist Rise and Fight for Historical Truth

In Spain, the legacy of Francisco Franco, who ruled as a dictator for nearly 40 years, continues to divide the nation. While some, particularly younger generations, are drawn to neo-Francoist and far-right ideologies, others are fighting to uncover the truth about the dictatorship's atrocities and ensure that history is not forgotten or whitewashed.

The Rise of Neo-Francoism

Miguel Anel, a 21-year-old college student, openly supports Franco, viewing him as "Spain's true savior" and admiring his "modesty" and love for the country. He identifies as a "neo-Francoist" and a "fascist" because he believes democracy has brought "confusion, uncertainty, and a divided nation," advocating for the restoration of order. Miguel is not alone; a recent poll indicates that approximately 34% of Spaniards under 34 would accept living in a non-democracy.

Supporters of Franco often romanticize his era, claiming that people could sleep with their doors open and that women were safe on the streets. They believe Spain "desperately needs someone like Franco" to bring justice.

Miguel is a member of the Movimiento Católico Español, a fundamentalist Catholic nationalist political party founded by José Luis Corral. This party upholds the ideals of patriotism, religion, and social justice from the Franco era and claims to reach thousands of people through social media, with representation in every province and even abroad. They actively recruit young people, believing that "idealism is more likely to reach young hearts and minds." The party claims to have 5,000 members, half of whom are under 25. José Luis Corral asserts that today's democracy is the "true dictatorship," citing restrictions on free speech and the legality of abortion as examples of societal decay. He believes an authoritarian or military government could save Spain and even Europe.

The Unhealed Wounds of the Past

The Franco regime, which began with a coup d'état on July 18, 1936, led to a brutal civil war that killed around 500,000 people. The subsequent dictatorship lasted until Franco's death in 1975, leaving behind a traumatized Spain. The country's transition to democracy was founded on an amnesty law, which meant that the crimes of the Franco regime went unpunished.

Espiransa and her brother Alejandro are trying to break the silence surrounding Spain's past by searching for information about their grandfather, Enrique Vjo Tora, an accountant and Republican trade unionist who was executed at 27 years old. His crime was his political beliefs. They found his arrest warrant and death certificate, which vaguely stated his death was "as a result of events," indicating a cover-up. Espiransa believes that Spain cannot move forward until all the disappeared people and victims of violence are found.

They visit a mass grave in Cordoba, where their grandfather was buried. Lead archaeologist Daniel Koga and his team have exhumed nearly 200 bodies in Cordoba. They found evidence of violent deaths, including bullets lodged in vertebrae and skulls, confirming executions. DNA is extracted from the bones to identify the victims and return them to their families. Up to 114,000 people are still believed to be in Franco's mass graves across Spain. The continuation of this work depends on political support, as the rise of the far-right Vox party could lead to a loss of subsidies.

The Whitewashing of History and its Consequences

Fernando Mazo, a history teacher in Madrid, observes the spread of fascist movements among young people, coinciding with the rise of the far-right Vox party, now the third-largest political force in Spain. He is concerned that the far right exploits Franco's image to promote its values, often fabricating claims about the benefits of his rule, such as inventing unemployment benefits. Mazo notes a "deliberate attempt to whitewash Franco without ever mentioning that he was a dictator, and a bloodthirsty one at that."

This trivialization of fascism is particularly prevalent on social media, where about half of young Spaniards get their news. Provocative content, including videos portraying Franco as a pop star, normalizes his image and makes him seem "cool." Mazo attributes this susceptibility to a lack of historical knowledge among young people, as the Franco dictatorship was a controversial topic that was often downplayed in education to avoid dividing the nation. While the topic has been on the curriculum for the past three years, teachers face pressure from conservative school boards that prioritize other historical periods, making it difficult to adequately cover the Franco regime.

Despite this, some young people recognize the dangers. One student noted that while some of her friends support Francoism, she finds it "ridiculous" given the lack of freedom of speech during that era. She believes that far-right ideas are gaining traction because young people find progressive ideas "boring or too normal," and Franco is becoming a symbol of "resisting the system."

The Enduring Impact of the Dictatorship

The glorification of Francoism is now subject to stricter legal restrictions in Spain, especially when it violates the dignity of victims or incites hatred. However, pro-Franco establishments, like the one where Diego celebrated his 19th birthday, continue to operate. Young fascists in these spaces express fears about the future, focusing on issues like the left in power, public schools, immigration, and "anti-woke" sentiments. They believe that "the LGBT lobby, immigration, Islam, and feminism are all ideologies that seek to destroy Western society." They yearn for a return to traditional values, where "men were still real men with testosterone" and protected their families.

Pilar, a survivor of the dictatorship, experienced its effects firsthand as a student in Barcelona. She was part of the resistance and was arrested and tortured in prison. She recounts being forced to hold a piece of paper against a wall with her forehead for hours, being beaten if it fell, and being subjected to mock executions in a soundproof room. Pilar notes that the police officers who tortured her and others remained in their posts after Franco's death, with no "de-Francoization" of the police or judiciary. Many even received medals and pensions, forcing survivors to live alongside their torturers.

The Francisco Franco National Foundation, led by a former general and with Franco's great-grandson as its president, actively works to preserve Franco's legacy and rewrite history, claiming he committed no crimes and ensured justice. The foundation's spokesperson asserts that "for 50 years, one lie after another has been told about Franco," and that they are silenced in what they call a "dictatorship of groupthink."

In April 2026, the Spanish left-wing government formally petitioned the courts to dissolve the foundation. However, as the far right rises, their ideas continue to spread. Pilar and other victims of the dictatorship continue to fight for justice, not only for themselves but also to ensure that younger generations are not swayed by a new wave of populism.