It cannot be reburied

The Constitutional Commission of the Spanish Parliament this week decided to reburied the former dictator of the country, General Francisco Franco . This initiative of socialist deputies was approved by most of their colleagues, representing different left-wing opposition Spanish parties in parliament. The ruling liberal people's party voted against.

The polemic on the need to reburial Francisco Franco, as an odious historical person, has been going on in Spain for many years. The remains of the dictator still rest in the so-called "valley of the fallen" , 60 kilometers northwest of Madrid. In the 40-50s of the last century, a grandiose memorial of the victims of the civil war was created there, in which almost 34 thousand people were buried, both Franco supporters and his opponents.

The remains of 14 women killed by the Spanish phalangists near the city of Heron in 1937. Found in 2012

The grave of the former ruler is located in the very center of the memorial, at the altar carved in a rock of giant basilica, and serves as a place of pilgrimage of tourists. This annoys many parliamentarians, emphasizes the deputy from the party "Republican Left Catalonia" Gabriel Rubyan :

- If it were only in our power, then this fascist mausoleum in the "Valley of the Fali" would be completely destroyed. But we respect the opinion of other left -wing forces, for example, socialists who suggested making this place exclusively as a monument to the victims of the fascist dictatorship. And to implement this idea, first of all, the monument should be freed from their executioner - General Franco. This is the proposal of the Catalan Republicans.

It is known that the dictator himself did not at all seek to be buried in the "valley of the fallen." During his lifetime, he acquired a place in the cemetery in the village of Pardo near Madrid, not far from his residence. The idea of burial in Basilica belonged to King Juan Carlos I, who replaced Franco as head of state. As for the opponents of the reburial, the figure of Franco himself is important for them as the confrontation between the parliamentary initiative of the left. In it, they see the desire not to even get rid of the grave of the corol butter, but rather impose their views on society and once and for all determine who in the recent past of Spain was unambiguously “good” and who is “bad”. That is how the liberals explain the desire of the social party to turn the reconciliation monument created in memory of all the victims of the civil conflict, into the monument only to the supporters of the Popular Front.

Francisco Franco (in the center) shortly before his death, in the company of the young Saddam Hussein (right)

One -sided approach to history, especially if it is supported by the state, according to the Madrid journalist Federico Homens Losantos , is unacceptable:

- People cannot be imposed on a particular interpretation of history in legislative order. This happens only in a totalitarian society. With totalitarianism, the population indicates that it should think, feel what is possible and what cannot be said. For disobedience - reprisal. Similar was widely practiced by Soviet communists, masters to impose a split and hatred in society. The Chekists professionally engaged in this.

Neither the liberal journalist Himenes Losanthos, nor most other opponents of reburial are at all fans of the former dictator. However, unlike the left, they do not idealize those who opposed Franco and his supporters in the civil war. After all, figures of the Popular Front , who received the material and moral support of Stalin, also committed a lot of atrocities. What is only the murder of the Spanish Stalinists nearly 7 thousand clergymen or the execution in November of the 36th year of 10 thousand representatives of the Madrid intelligentsia, as "potentially hostile elements."

Spanish Republicans shoot at the statue of Christ. 1937

For many Spaniards, the civil war of the 30s of the last century was, first of all, the greatest tragedy in which there were neither right nor guilty. The need to be careful about a complex and conflicting history in order not to cause unnecessary conflicts in society, the mayor of Madrid Manuel Carmen also says. Her opinion is especially curious, since the Madrid mayor is unequivocally left for left -handed forces - although it takes a special position in this matter:

None of us can now know firmly, what would he do in those days

- Spanish democracy is young and fragile. Therefore, we need to look for decisions that receive wide support in society. We should not hang labels on figures who, in some specific historical circumstances, made certain decisions. After all, none of us now can firmly know how he would have acted in those days, which side of the conflict has accepted. So let's not assess anyone and judge anyone.

The decision of the Constitutional Commission of the Parliament on the reburial of Franco does not yet have the strength of the law. To gain this force, it must be approved by the parliament itself. According to the freedom of Spanish analysts, the fate of the burial has not yet been finally resolved, and the polemic around it will last a long time. It is possible that opponents of reburial will appeal to the Constitutional Court of Spain, and the procedure for considering difficult issues in it sometimes takes months or even years.