Franco’s Spain: Political Regime, Social Changes, and Transition
Franco’s Political Regime
The political regime was characterized by a totalitarian state in which Franco concentrated all powers. He was head of state, government, army, and the National Movement. This was contrary to parliamentary democracy, as the constitution of 1931 was suppressed, individual and collective rights were abolished, and political parties and union organizations were banned. The fundamental laws and the constitution were replaced by the Spanish justice system, culminating in the latest organic law of the state.
The traditional Spanish Phalanx (FET) and JONS (National Union Offensive Boards) was the only legal party and was led by Franco under the name of “National Movement,” the only way to participate in politics. The vertical union encompassed both employers and workers, replacing independent labor unions.
Social Support for Franco
The military was the defender of the regime. Franco was anti-Communist and a defender of the unity of Spain and tradition. The Church supported the uprising and gave Franco enormous power. After Vatican II, differences began to emerge, and some within the Church stopped supporting the regime. Banking, industry, homeowners, and middle-class landowners, who had perceived a threat to their property during the Republic, supported the Francoist system, seeing it as a guarantee to maintain their status.
Changes in the Population (Social Trends)
Migration excelled in the 1950s but reached its peak in the 1960s. Migrants moved toward industrialized regions of Spain and also went to Europe. Within Spain, there were major shifts from the countryside to the city (rural exodus), and from the interior outwards. Madrid, along with Barcelona, was a major center of attraction in the interior. In Europe, the post-war recovery was so intense that foreign workers were needed, leading to the influx of migrants.
The Transition to Democracy
After Franco’s death, a period of transition began, moving from dictatorship to democracy.
Divisions in Spanish Politics
- Reformers: Sought to establish a democratic system without breaking completely with the Franco regime.
- Breakthrough: Wanted to break with the dictatorship, calling for free elections and working towards a new constitution.
Changes in Society
The urban middle class grew, reducing the number of farmers and increasing the number of skilled workers due to industrialization. The population structure shifted, with approximately 5% upper class, 56% middle class, and 39% lower class. These new classes played an important role in the modernization of Spain. The Education Law of 1970 helped increase the number of schools and growth in the different educational levels, increasing the number of Spanish in high school or college.
Political Opposition
The Falangists and Carlist monarchists did not accept the decree of unification because it integrated three political groups into a single party.
The 1940s
- The UN refused entry to Spain and imposed an economic and political blockade.
- Don Juan, heir of Alfonso XIII and father of King Juan Carlos, publicly stated that the monarchy was the only system to pacify Spain. Franco reacted to this declaration and promulgated the “Law of Succession,” considering Spain a kingdom, but Don Juan was not considered a candidate. He only agreed to allow Prince Juan Carlos to be educated in Spain.
The 1950s
There were strikes by workers in Catalonia and Biscay, as well as other incidents. Anti-Franco political groups formed, mostly belonging to the middle class and were sons of the victors of the civil war. The two major unions that existed in the Second Republic (“UGT” and “CNT”) continued their activities underground. The CNT split and lost representativeness.
The 1960s-70s
In 1962, the “IV Congress of the European Federalist Movement” was held in Munich. For the first time, representatives of the opposition in exile and from within Spain attended. They requested the end of the regime and the establishment of democracy in Spain. Franco reacted violently, calling this a conspiracy. Catalan and Basque nationalism were reorganized and began to act. ETA was founded in 1959, defined themselves in 1962, and in 1968 committed their first fatality. ETA assassinated Carrero Blanco, vice president of the government, in 1973.