The anniversary of Franco's death emboldens neo-fascists

MadridNext Thursday marks the fiftieth anniversary of Francisco Franco's death. While institutions like Congress prepare to host events celebrating the arrival of democracy in Spain, a minority within civil society is preparing to reclaim the ideological legacy of the dictatorship at a time of growing fascination of young people with neo-fascismA week ago, 700 neo-Nazis marched through the center of Madrid, hooded and displaying Francoist symbols and racist slogans, giving the fascist salute. The demonstration was organized by Núcleo Nacional, one of the organizations most actively recruiting teenagers. These scenes are expected to be repeated next Friday when Falange has called for its traditional march in homage to José Antonio Primo de Rivera, its founder.

On the Falange's social media profiles, it's striking that, aside from the call to demonstrate the day after the anniversary, there's a proliferation of posts advertising actions carried out by young militants. "Núcleo Nacional, Democracia Nacional, or Falange want to promote identity politics, race, and religion through an increasingly extremist discourse aimed at a younger and younger population, approaching the age of twelve or thirteen, just like other violent urban groups such as gangs of Latin origin," he reflects in a conversation with the Initiatives on Discrimination and Violence (CEIDIV).

Sources within the Spanish government delegation in Madrid, consulted by this newspaper, explain that they are "tied hand and foot" and must authorize these demonstrations because they are protected by the fundamental right to protest, however much they may produce images that generate outrage. A year ago, the delegation tried to modify the route of the Falange protest—it was originally planned to run from Génova Street, next to the PP headquarters, to Ferraz Street, where the PSOE headquarters are located—but the High Court of Justice of Madrid ruled in favor of the organizers and endorsed the Falangists' intentions, allowing them to repeat the same route this year.

International Ties and Nostalgia

The week will culminate on Sunday, November 23, with an international meeting of neo-fascists in Madrid, featuring speeches by the leaders of Falange and National Democracy, Manuel Andrino and Pedro Chaparro, both convicted for the Blanquerna attack. "Europe: One, Great, and Free" is the title—a clear nod to the Francoist dictatorship—of the summit promoted by the Alliance for Peace and Freedom (APF), which brings together xenophobic European parties and is chaired by Nick Griffin, leader of the Italian Forza party and former leader of the British National Party.

That weekend, Saturday the 22nd, within the framework of the events promoted by the 2025 Platform, which was created with the aim of counterprogramming the agenda of the Spanish government on the 50th anniversary of Franco's deathThe documentary will premiere Franco, truth and victory which shamelessly glorifies the figure of the dictator. A week earlier, the same organization that collaborates with the Francisco Franco Foundation held a series of lectures with the same objective. Fifty years after his death, the far right is shamelessly trying to resurrect him.