Franco’s Dictatorship: Political Crisis, Opposition, and Death
The Crises of the Dictatorship
6.1 The Political Crisis of the Regime
In 1973, Luis Carrero Blanco was appointed president of the government, a figure crucial for maintaining the regime after Franco’s death. However, these plans were disrupted when Carrero Blanco was assassinated by ETA in Madrid. This event widened the gap between the immobilistes, who advocated for the regime’s continuation at any cost, and the oberturistes, who sought gradual change through political associations within the Movement. The extremist sector, known as the ‘bunker,’ comprised military command and old Falange members. In 1974, Carlos Arias Navarro formed a new government, attempting to include both oberturistes and immobilistes. His program, the ‘Spirit of February 12,’ aimed for greater political pluralism, promising reforms and new laws on trade unions and political associations. However, ultradetrans sectors warned of the regime’s imminent destruction, and the Arias Navarro government leaned towards immobilisme. The oberturistes ministers left the government, marking the failure of the Franco regime to democratize from within.
6.2 The Rise of Antifranquismo
From 1973, social unrest and political opposition grew significantly. Protests by workers, students, and opposition groups led to the creation of unitary bodies demanding democratization and an end to Francoism. The Assembly of Catalonia was formed, followed by the Board in Spain, initiated by the PCE in Paris, which included CCOO, left-wing parties, and democratic figures. Their program advocated for a provisional government, amnesty, political and trade union freedoms, and the legalization of all parties. In 1975, the PSOE promoted the Platform of Democratic Convergence, and in 1976, Democratic Coordination was formed with the UGT and the GNP. The final years of the dictatorship were marked by political violence, with increased attacks by ETA and the emergence of ultra-left terrorism. Franco responded with intensified repression.
6.3 The Dictator’s Death
Franco’s health deteriorated throughout 1974 and 1975. With Franco unable to govern, the government faced the Sahara conflict. In 1973, the Sahrawi Polisario Front was created, advocating for nationalist independence. Spain initially accepted decolonization and a referendum on self-determination. However, King Hassan of Morocco, backed by the U.S., organized the Green March, a peaceful invasion of tens of thousands of civilians, to prevent the expansion of Algerian socialism. This led to a conflict between the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Morocco, a conflict that remains unresolved. Franco died in 1975, leaving behind an outdated regime in deep crisis. His intention to leave Spain’s future ‘well tied up’ proved to be an illusion.