Ideological and Institutional Transformations Under Franco
Ideological and Institutional Transformations
Franco declined to establish a temporary military dictatorship; his intention was to create a new state and banish any idea of liberal democracy, liberalism, and communism.
Totalitarian Regime
The new political regime was established as a totalitarian system in which all powers were concentrated in the figure of Chief General Franco. It organized a political model based on the existence of a single party: FET y de las JONS. The system was inspired by the fascist state. Spain had imposed a state model, for it was a hybrid or a combination of military dictatorship, fascist state, and absolute monarchy without a king. This dictatorial will was made clear from the dismantling of all institutions. The Constitution of 1931 was abolished, prohibiting any manifestation of nationalism. The dictatorship tried to give a picture of legality with the promulgation of a series of fundamental laws. This process was not completed until 1967 with the enactment of the Organic Law of the State. The six fundamental laws enacted by the regime were:
- The Work Jurisdiction of Spanish Courts
- The Constitutional Law of the Courts
- The Law of National Referendum
- The Law of Succession
- The Law on Principles of National Movement
Structure of the New State
In January 1938, he appointed his first government leader, beginning the real task of constructing or institutionalizing the regime. Franco presided over the National Council while he enjoyed exceptional powers to enact laws in emergency situations. The leader had almost absolute power. The political structure and doctrine that underpinned the Francoist state were called the National Movement. The structure was completed with the establishment of courts. All representatives to courts or prosecutors were appointed by power. The regime called this system “organic democracy.” Justice also disappeared as an independent power and was subordinated to the executive. Government power was transmitted through the old institution of civil governors in each province. The old military structure of the Captain-General, abolished by the Republic, was also restored. Another great power of the state were the official trade unions, called vertical unions. The defeat of Italian fascism and German Nazism after 1945 made the regime carry out a transaction that made up for it but left the dictatorial building intact.
The Families of the Regime
Power was always expressed in three aspects: military, civil, and ecclesiastical; these were the three authorities. The scheme was sustained on various corporate groups and families: the army, the Catholic Church, politicians like the Phalanx, traditionalists, monarchists, and lobbying groups like Opus Dei or the National Catholic Association of Propagandists. The Church’s influence was decisive; in exchange for their support, the Church became a power, enjoyed privileges, and urged Catholic unity, officially excluding any other religion. Speaking of the Franco dictatorship as a regime based on national Catholicism, since Spanish and deep nationalism and conservative Catholicism were the ideological axis of the political regime. The Phalanx was losing power and showed blind loyalty to the leader. The army was always the backbone of the system and never discussed the power of the Generalissimo. Their loyalty was rewarded with numerous appointments to senior posts. Franco had no intention of restoring the monarchy, yet he had contact with the heir, Juan de Borbón.